0-0: Italy draw against Ukraine and defend its crown in Germany

Champion Italy will defend its crown at Euro 2024 in Germany. Absent in the last two World Cups, this time he did not let the specter of a play-off reappear and confirmed his direct classification as second in group C by securing a draw that was good enough for him in the coin toss against in Ukraine on neutral ground. from the BayArena in Leverkusen (0-0).

Italy and Ukraine finished equal with 14 points behind England, but the ‘azzurra’ entered the final stage because of the better individual ‘average’ (they won 2-1 at San Siro in September) , while Viktor Tsygankov and Artem Dovbyk, Girona’s forwards will have a new chance in the play-offs.

If the prolegomena are emotional when jumping on the grass Ukrainian players wrapped in their country’s flag, The first few minutes of the game were electrifying. Both teams went all out and in the opening quarter of an hour there were chances on both goals.

Tsygankov (4′) and, above all, tested Georgiy Sudakov (13′). to a safe Gianlugi Donnarumma with shots from outside the area, while the central Alessandro Buongiorno gets a yellow card for repeatedly handling a Dovbyk who resists being held back (7′).

Italy went out to win

But Italy did not come out to speculate, as its coach Luciano Spalletti promised. and Federico Chiesa had a clear chance when he miscued a volley in the goal and the ball goes over the crossbar (6′). Meanwhile, Nicolò Barella also forced goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin to intervene with a long shot (15′).

After this wild start, The match entered a phase of clear control of the game on the part of Italy that Chiesa was an unbalanced factor.

Great Church

Juventino created a lot of danger down the left but Spalletti gave him plenty of mobility and on a counterattack he delivered the goal on a plate to Davide Frattesi with a great through ball. but the interista ran into a providential Trubin in one-on-one (28′).

Seconds before the edge Giovanni Di Lorenzo also grabbed the goal with a header after a corner too close to the post.

Mudryk’s Threat

Ukraine’s strategy is clear, recover and quickly exit the counterbut was held back by Italy’s 64% possession in the first half Mykhailo Mudryk spreading panic with his attacks from the left whenever he played more times than he wanted.

Spalletti changed the ‘9’ at half-time. Giacomo Raspadori gave his place to a cleaner forward. Gianluca Scamacca, But Italy still couldn’t find a way to goal and they even struggled to create chances as in the last half hour Ukraine openly launched their football in search of victory.

Tsygankov, Dovbyk and especially Mudryk fought for every long ball against an Italy that defended tooth and nail against the Ukrainian push and knew how to suffer without allowing clear goal situations.

Discount controversy

With the discount comes controversy. Mudryk He attacked a centered ball and fell before the entrance of Bryan Cristante. The Spanish Jesus Gil Manzano He let it go on and the VAR didn’t send him a signal to review the game. Ukraine needed to win and they didn’t, but their fans sent them off with a standing ovation.