Italy won 2-0 in Malta in the second match of Group C of the Euro 2024 qualifiers. The Azzurri, defeated on their debut in Naples by England (who beat Ukraine in the second match), took the first 3 points in the group. Coach Mancini’s national team mortgaged the victory in the first half with goals from Retegui, his second goal in as many appearances, and Pessina. The match opens with an opportunity for the hosts, who frighten the European champions in the 5th minute. Satariano receives a millimeter pass from Mbong in the area and kicks, Donnarumma avoids trouble. Italy takes a quarter of an hour to fuel up and turn the match around.
At the 15th corner for the Azzurri, Tonali sends in the middle and Retegui scores: the Italian-Argentine take off, header and 0-1. The doubling arrives in the 27th minute. After Grifo’s failed finish, who came in for the bruised Gnonto, Emerson put the ball back in the center and Pessina took advantage of the chance: 0-2 and match in the safe. The Azzurri are masters of the field and in the 30th minute they are close to making a set. Di Lorenzo offers the ball to Grifo, Bonello rejects the shot from the heart of the penalty area.
In the second half, Mancini’s formation administered without worries: Italy didn’t create much, but conceded practically nothing. The monotony, after a barrage of substitutions, was interrupted in the 69th minute: a corner from Politano, a bicycle kick from Scamacca and Bonello was attentive. The last portion of the race does not give other jolts. Italy wins and breaks the ice. The Azzurri will return to the field in September in North Macedonia.
“These are matches where you have everything to lose and they turn into bad matches. We did good things and bad things. It was important to win it, we unlocked it in the first half. Almost everything could have been done better”, commented Mancini. Retegui, who unlocked the game, “was fundamental. He needs time, he still needs to get to know European football well. It takes time.”
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