Beleaguered Italy bounced again from a scandal-hit week on Saturday by strolling to a 4-0 win over Malta which maintained second place in Euro 2024 qualifying Group C.
Domenico Berardi’s double, Giacomo Bonaventura’s first Italy purpose and a late strike from Davide Frattesi gave the European champions an anticipated win towards rock-bottom Malta to reclaim the second automated qualifying spot from Ukraine who beat North Macedonia 2-0 earlier within the day.
Luciano Spalletti’s facet are degree on 10 factors with Ukraine and three factors behind leaders England forward of Tuesday’s key conflict at Wembley the place the Azzurri gained the final Euro simply over two years in the past.
Italy return to the location of their best triumph since profitable the 2006 World Cup whereas Ukraine face sorry Malta in Ta’ Qali.
Malta are but to register a single level after six matches within the five-team group and on the idea of Saturday’s exhibiting are unlikely to place up a lot resistance towards Ukraine.
Which means something however one other victory over England will seemingly depart Italy third forward of their ultimate two matches in November — North Macedonia in Rome and Ukraine in Leverkusen.
Saturday’s win in entrance of over 56,000 followers in Bari got here after a tough few days for the Italy squad, with accidents and a betting scandal hampering Spalletti’s preparations for 2 essential matches.
The previous Napoli coach misplaced striker Federico Chiesa and Mattia Zaccagni to damage over the previous two days after additionally having to go away out strikers Ciro Motionless and Mateo Retegui from his preliminary squad.
Even worse, Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo have been allowed to go away the Coverciano coaching camp on Thursday after being questioned for 2 hours by felony prosecutors over alleged playing offences.
That investigation, and parallel soccer federation probes, are set to hold over the sport in Italy as they attempt to attain subsequent summer season’s event in Germany after lacking the final World Cup.
In-form Fiorentina midfielder Bonaventura received the ball rolling halfway via the primary half when he opened his worldwide account with a superbly struck curling shot.
And Berardi doubled the hosts’ lead on the stroke of half-time with a pearl of a strike from the sting of the world which flew previous Malta goalkeeper Henry Bonello and crashed in off the put up.
That was Berardi’s first Italy purpose since October 2021 and the Sassuolo winger capped an ideal night when he thumped residence Italy’s third within the sixty fourth minute.
Gianluigi Donnarumma snuffed out a Malta counter and launched an assault down the left flank from the place Giacomo Raspadori’s flashed low cross evaded Moise Kean however fell completely for Berardi, whose completely struck first-time end sealed the factors.
Frattesi then drilled residence the fourth, and his fourth in eight Italy matches, deep in stoppage time to place the cherry on the cake.
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