Italy on Monday earned some redemption by qualifying for next year’s UEFA Euro 2024, while Slovenia and the Czech Republic also secured spots.
Italy needed just a point against Ukraine to claim second spot in Group C and avoid the playoffs and drew 0-0 in Germany.
However, there were some nervy moments for the Azzurri, who rode their luck.
Photo: AP
Italy failed to qualify for the past two FIFA World Cups after losing playoffs — to Sweden and North Macedonia. After they missed out on the 2018 World Cup, they went on to win the following European Championship.
“We are very happy. We are where we deserve to be after all the difficulties that we had, but thanks to the new coach and the staff we have returned,” Italy captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma said. “Now it’s right that we go there and we go there to bring back something, even to win it because we are going there as winners.”
Ukraine would have sneaked past Italy with a win, but now head into the playoffs. England were already assured of top spot in the group and they drew against North Macedonia 1-1 to finish the campaign unbeaten.
Photo: EPA-EFE
A point would also have been enough for Slovenia and the Czech Republic to advance to Euro 2024 and they beat Kazakhstan and Moldova respectively to end their opponents’ hopes of qualifying automatically for a first major international tournament.
Kazakhstan still have a chance via the playoffs. They face Greece in the semi-finals on March 21 and — if they win — either Georgia or Luxembourg five days later.
The top two finishers from each of the 10 groups advance. Another three spots are to be determined in a playoff linked to performances in the UEFA Nations League.
Hosts Germany automatically qualified.
Ukraine were angered by a decision not to give a penalty late in the game for what seemed like a trip on Mykhailo Mudryk.
Federico Chiesa, Giovanni di Lorenzo and Davide Frattesi all missed excellent chances in the first half for Italy, for which Donnarumma charged down a shot by Mudryk to stop Ukraine taking the lead.
His own misjudgement off a long throw gave Mudryk the chance.
It was the first time Italy failed to score in a European Championship qualifier in more than 13 years.
The match took place at the stadium of Bundesliga leader Bayer 04 Leverkusen because Ukraine cannot play international games at home for security reasons during the military invasion by Russia.
Russia were banned from Euro 2024 qualifying.
Russia thrashed Cuba 8-0 in a friendly on Monday with eight different scorers. The result was one goal shy of their record 9-0 win over San Marino in qualifying for Euro 2020.
Slovenia are to play in the European Championship for the first time in nearly 25 years.
A late goal from Benjamin Verbic saw Slovenia beat Kazakhstan 2-1 and qualify for the tournament for the first time since Euro 2000.
Denmark were already guaranteed to finish top of Group H and lost away to Northern Ireland 2-0.
Pyry Soiri scored twice to help third-placed Finland win in San Marino 2-1.
Not content with qualifying for only their second major tournament, Albania ensured that they did so as Group E winners after drawing with the Faroe Islands 0-0. That saw Albania finish above the Czech Republic thanks to a superior head-to-head record.
The Czech Republic beat 10-man Moldova 3-0 to seal second spot in the group.
NIGHT OF FIRSTS: In the first official game at the Tapei Dome on Sunday, not only did Taiwan notch a win over South Korea, they also recorded the stadium’s first hit and RBI The Philippines yesterday dominated Thailand 14-4 at the Taipei Dome in the opening game of Group B on the second day of the Asian Baseball Championship, while Palestine pipped Hong Kong 3-1 in Taichung in Group A. World No. 35 the Philippines put themselves on the board early, racking up two runs in the first inning, followed by two in the third, one each in the fourth and fifth, and three in the sixth. Thailand, ranked 43rd in the world, did not get on the board until the top of the seventh inning, when they tried to stage a comeback, putting up
TROUNCED: Taiwan beat Palestine in six innnings on day three of the Asia Baseball Championship, while it took just five innings for Japan to defeat Thailand Taiwan yesterday beat Palestine 19-0 at the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium on the third day of the Asian Baseball Championship. The Group A game was over in six innings after a 6:03pm start. Taiwan went on the offensive from the first inning, scoring three runs, but the real damage was done in the third inning, when they scored seven. The Palestine players are all studying or working in the US. In another duel between two unevenly matched teams, Japan thrashed Thailand 16-0 in their late Group B game at the Taipei Dome. They won in five innings thanks to the mercy rule, which states
NATIONS LEAGUE: England crushed Scotland 6-0, but their Olympic hopes were ruined when the Netherlands beat them on goal difference with a 4-0 win against Belgium Germany and the Netherlands on Tuesday booked their places at the UEFA Women’s Nations League finals , where they are also to fight for spots at next year’s Paris Games, but there was heartbreak for England whose hopes of competing in the Olympics were dashed, despite beating Scotland 6-0. Germany drew 0-0 in Wales, but secured their passage thanks to Iceland’s 1-0 win over Denmark. The Netherlands needed a 95th-minute goal from Damaris Egurrola to see them to a 4-0 win over Belgium which meant they edged England on goal difference in Group A1 after the FIFA Women’s World Cup runners-up hammered
SANTOS RELEGATED: Pele’s former team finished with a loss that prompted fans to attempt to invade the pitch, forcing the players to run for the locker rooms One of the most exciting seasons of the Brazilian league ended on Wednesday with the most stable team of the year defending their title and the club that was home to Pele relegated for the first time. Palmeiras drew 1-1 against Cruzeiro to be crowned Brazilian champions for the 12th time. Endrick, 18, scored his 11th goal of the season to give Palmeiras an early lead and Nikao equalized in the 80th minute at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte. Santos’ relegation following a 2-1 home loss to Fortaleza was another setback for the club at the stadium where Pele’s funeral took place