Author: Amrit Santlani
Italy – Malta – 4:0
UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying continued on Saturday night and reigning Euro 2020 champions Italy took on Malta.
Luciano Spalleti’s squad welcomed Malta to the Stadio San Nicola, but the entire pre-match preparation was dominated by a betting scandal. Local police authorities questioned Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo at the national team’s training center in Coverciano in Bari. The two Premier League players left the camp late and the Azzurri’s task was made even more difficult by injuries.
But the home side’s advantage was undeniable. For example, they outscored the visitors 16-2. In the fifth minute, Gianluca Mancini’s header hit the crossbar from a corner kick.
The Azzurri started the game on a high when Moise Kean tried to dribble into the box, but was blocked, and the ball landed at the feet of Bonaventura, who fired a first-time shot into the top right corner. He became the oldest player to score a goal for Italy
Just before half-time, Berardi scored his seventh international goal, ending a personal goal drought of almost two years, when the striker’s shot hit the post and went in to give Italy a 2-0 lead at the break.
After the restart, Berardi added to his tally with a fine team goal. Gianluigi Donnarumma started the attack, passed to Giacomo Raspadori, whose cross was directed to Kean. The striker couldn’t punish Malta, but Berardi was on hand to do the damage.
Frattesi came on in the second half and scored his third goal in two games for Italy, giving his team a much-needed win ahead of their match against table toppers England.
Italy remain second in Group C, trailing England by three points ahead of the two teams’ clash at Wembley on Tuesday.
Ukraine are also level on points with the Italians, having beaten North Macedonia 2-0, but the Azzurri have a game in hand. The top two teams in the group will join Spain, Portugal and France, who have already qualified for Euro 2024.
In other matches:
- Ukraine – North Macedonia – 2:0
- Northern Ireland – San Marino – 3:0
- Bulgaria-Lithuania – 0-2
- Slovenia – Finland – 3:0
- Hungary – Serbia – 2:1 (at the same time, the Serbs hit the post twice, and two of their goals were disallowed)
- Denmark – Kazakhstan – 3:1
USA vs Germany – 1:3
Germany, who will host Euro 2024, beat the United States in a friendly at Rentschler Field in Connecticut.
Pulisic scored an early goal for the hosts, but was offside, and Matt Turner saved the USA by making an important save to stop Pascal Gross’ long-range shot.
In the 27th minute, Pulisic dazzled his way past two German defenders before unleashing the bomb and scoring a fine opening goal, but the joy was short-lived as Gundogan equalized the game 11 minutes later after a run from Leroy Sane.
After the restart, Turner again saved his side’s efforts by saving a fierce shot from Fullkrug, but the German ended up scoring his own goal in the 58th minute, appearing alone on the end line and beating the US offside trap.
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Minutes later, Musial doubled Germany’s lead when the youngster shot into the net after a deflection to seal his side’s victory.
It was Nagelsmann’s first win as Germany coach after Hansi Flick was sacked following the shock 4-1 defeat to Japan. Rudi Voller took over on an interim basis in the 2-1 defeat to France in September, but with less than eight months to go until Euro 2024, Die Manschaft are showing promising signs under the new coach. Nagelsmann’s next task is another friendly against Mexico on October 18 in Philadelphia.