(Football news) In their most recent Euro 2024 qualifying match, the Azzurri defeated Ukraine 2-1, while their cellar-dwelling opponents were soundly defeated 2-0 by North Macedonia.
Italy can put more pressure on the Three Lions ahead of their exciting Wembley reunion on Tuesday, as they take on Australia in a friendly while their rivals in the Euro 2020 final take a short break from competition. Luciano Spalletti, the winner of the Scudetto, has led the team to consistent improvement.
Even though the Azzurri did not exactly show off their superiority in September, Spalletti’s team has recovered from opening the crown defense with a 2-1 loss to Gareth Southgate’s enraged troops by grabbing seven of the final nine points available in Group C.
Italy managed to move into second position in the hotly contested group despite a forgettable 1-1 draw away to North Macedonia and a narrow 2-1 victory against the Ukrainians, who were hammered by a brace from Davide Frattesi before pulling one back through Andriy Yarmolenko.
With the exception of England, who are undefeated and lead the section with 13 points, all of Italy, Ukraine, and North Macedonia are on seven points. However, Spalletti’s team has a game in hand over every team in the section because of their recent Nations League exploits, which saw them defeat the Netherlands in the third-place playoff.
Amazingly, Italy’s home loss to England in March is their only defeat in 44 European Championship qualifying games. The reigning champions haven’t failed to score at this point since a goalless draw with Northern Ireland in 2010—statistics that give a dejected Malta very little hope.
It is more than can be said for a Malta team whose Group C campaign has been yet another humiliating experience that even if Italy are knocked out of the top two in the upcoming months, they will be given another chance to qualify via the playoff path.
The squad led by Michele Marcolini, an Italian native, will now undoubtedly have to endure an agonizing wait for their first major tournament debut as North Macedonia defeated Eljif Elmas and Jovan Manev on matchday five.
The world’s 171st-ranked team, who are currently bottom of Group C with just one goal and zero points to their name, made a wild attempt to finish in the top two, and they are officially no longer allowed to finish higher than third.
The Maltese supporters have at least had something to cheer about this year thanks to two 1-0 friendly victories over Luxembourg and Gibraltar; however, apart from perennial whipping boys San Marino, the latter are one of just two goalless teams that have outperformed the Reds in the attacking department in the UEFA groups.
Malta is currently anticipated to suffer a 15th straight loss in Euro qualification; the team has never defeated Italy in their previous 18 meetings and hasn’t scored a goal against the Azzurri since 1993, when Carmel Busuttil’s penalty was only a consolation in a 6-1 annihilation.
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