MILAN (ITALPRESS) – A brace from Frattesi gives Luciano Spalletti his first victory as coach of the Italian national team. At San Siro, Italy beat Ukraine 2-1 and rises to 7th place in group C for qualifying for the 2024 European Championships, on equal points (but with one game less) with Rebrov’s national team and Macedonia North, behind leaders England (13). Spalletti changes five players compared to the 11 who played in Skopje. Scalvini, Frattesi, Locatelli, Zaniolo and Raspadori are the new players from the 1st minute against a Ukraine that leaves star Mudryk on the bench. Italy finds space in the build-up and is aggressive in the first pressure. The 1-0 was born precisely from an error by the opponents under construction. In the 12th minute Sudakov slips and gives the ball to Zaccagni, who serves Frattesi in the centre: powerful conclusion at the near post and nothing for Bushchan to do. The first half hour of the game is a continuous siege in Ukraine’s half of the pitch. At 26′ another chance. Dimarco crosses from the left, headed by Frattesi and volleyed by Raspadori: high ball. To double you have to wait three minutes and a VAR check. The usual Frattesi and Raspadori almost hinder each other in the area, but the Inter player, with an opportunist’s flair, lets go the winning diagonal shot with his right foot. It seems offside, the referee cancels it but the video check reveals no irregularities and San Siro can celebrate again. Donnarumma (booed by part of the crowd) is called into action for the first time in the 36th minute. Dovbyk shoots from distance, but the PSG goalkeeper is attentive and blocks. The Azzurri goalkeeper repeats himself in the 41st minute on a close-range shot from the Girona center forward, but an incorrect touch from Dimarco becomes an involuntary assist for Yarmolenko’s pass into an empty net. In the 59th minute, a chance to make it 3-1: Zaniolo’s heel and Raspadori’s shot, Bushchan saves. In the 69th minute Locatelli turns in the area and shoots: crossbar. Italy doesn’t close it, but this time there are no bad surprises.
– foto LivePhotoSport –
(ITALPRESS).
