With courageous offensive football but no goals, European champions Italy secured their ticket to the European Championships in Germany in the thrilling “Group C final” against Ukraine. A 0-0 draw in Leverkusen on Monday evening (11/20/23) was enough for the defending champions to maintain second place in the table behind England.
Ukraine, tied with 14 points, will have to take the detour via the playoffs in March in third place. In September, national coach Luciano Spalletti came in to avert another debacle for the Squadra Azzurra after missing the World Cup finals in Qatar – and thanks to the 5-2 win over trauma opponents North Macedonia, Italy had all the trump cards against Ukraine.
Tifosi with a lot of compassion
But the war-torn opponent, who had prepared for his “home game abroad” in Gdansk, Poland and traveled to Germany on Saturday, also thought they had “good chances,” as Ukraine coach Serhij Rebrow announced. In the BayArena, the almost 30,000 spectators gave them goosebumps even before kick-off, while a huge Ukraine jersey stretched over the center circle: First, “Il Canto degli Italiani” rang fervently from the Tifosi’s throats, before the away fans loudly sang the Ukrainian anthem applauded.
More spirited beginning
It also got off to a fair but fiery start on the pitch, with both teams repeatedly pushing dangerously forward. Italy’s top striker Federico Chiesa (6th) missed the best chance from close range; on the other hand, keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma (14th) had to use all his skills against Georgij Sudakov. After about 20 minutes, things calmed down briefly and both sides were now more compact.
But then Italy went up several gears, the scream for goal was on the Tifosi’s lips, but David Frattesi (29th) and Co. missed opportunity after opportunity. Even after the break, the Azzurri initially set the tone, but Ukraine fought back with zeal – and suddenly Italy was swimming. After Michailo Mudryk’s shot from a tight angle, Donnarumma (65th) was once again in dire need, and a little later the captain also parried against Viktor Tsygankov (66th).
Slovenia and the Czech Republic also “through”
Slovenia and the Czech Republic have been confirmed as two further participants in the 2024 European Football Championship. Slovenia won its “final” in Group H against pursuers Kazakhstan 2-1 (1-0), while the Czech Republic comfortably defeated Moldova 3-0 (1-0) in the Group E showdown. Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko scored the opening goal for Slovenia with a penalty kick (41′). Kazakhstan has another chance to qualify for the EURO in Germany via the play-offs in March.
David Doudera (14th), Tomas Chory (72nd) and Tomas Soucek (90th + 2) scored for the Czech Republic around Leverkusen attacker Adam Hlozek. Moldova played outnumbered from the 55th minute onwards and finished the group in fourth place. Before the Czech Republic and Slovenia, Germany and 16 other teams had already decided to take part in the European Championship tournament next summer after successfully qualifying. A total of 24 teams will be competing in the second European Championship finals on German soil after the premiere 35 years ago.
Kane “indirectly” saves England a point
The English, who had already qualified, still managed a 1-1 (0-1) draw in North Macedonia. Substitute Kane at least played a part in the equalizer for the weak Three Lions. Around 30 seconds after he took the ball, the Munich attacker narrowly missed a cross, but the ball then bounced off his opponent Jani Atasanov (59th) into his own goal. Enis Bardhi (41st) had previously given the hosts the lead.