In the final stretch of European Championship qualifiers, defending champions Italy clinched their spot with a nervy 0-0 draw against Ukraine. Italy, England's Group C counterparts, managed to secure the requisite one point to finish in second place, ahead of the Ukrainians who will now vie for a spot in the tournament in the March play-offs.
The match in Leverkusen's BayArena was far from a standard Italy performance, instead, it turned out to be an exhilarating duel with both teams creating numerous opportunities to score. A controversial situation unfolded shortly before the final whistle, with no penalty called against Italy's Francesco Acerbi for a tackle in the box against Michailo Mudrik, much to the dismay of Ukraine supporters.
Italy started the game aggressively and offensively, outshining Ukraine in terms of possession and opportunities, but the scoreline remained at 0-0 despite their dominance. After the break, the Italians continued to press, and Ukraine responded with a series of counter-attacks, hinting at a potential game-changing moment. Both teams showed resilience, taking turns in creating scoring chances, keeping the spectators on the edge of their seats.
With the draw, Italy qualified for the European Championship 2024, securing their spot in Germany's competition. Their final group standings were as follows:
- England (8 points)
- Italy (14 points)
- Ukraine (14 points)
- North Macedonia (8 points)
- Malta (0 points)
Italy's road to qualification was a rollercoaster ride, with close calls and vagaries of VAR interventions, but their determination and defensive brilliance ultimately saw them through. The Ukrainians, on the other hand, will have another opportunity to book their place at the European Championships when they participate in the play-offs later this year.
Sources:
- dpa.com
- UEFA
- Transfermarkt
- ESPN
The Ukrainian association thanked Germany for their hospitality and support during their qualifying campaign, with numerous banners displaying the message "We thank Germany for its hospitality" during the game. The fans and Italian players, including goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, made a heartfelt show of support for peace before the start of the match. The presence of families who had fled Ukraine added a poignant touch to the already significant atmosphere.
The Italians' qualification for the European Championship 2024 marks another chapter in their storied football history, while the Ukrainians will be hoping to write their own success story in the play-offs. Their meet in Leverkusen will be remembered as a thrilling, yet tense, match that offered an exciting build-up to the upcoming tournament.
