Italy nearly lost to North Macedonia in a qualifying match for the 2024 European Championship. Video

The Italian national football team defeated North Macedonia in a qualifying match for the 2024 European Championship. Coach Luciano Spalletti's team did not make a kind of 'gift' to the Ukrainians and beat the Balkans at the legendary Stadio Olimpico in Rome with 5-2. In fact, it almost lost the victory with a score of 3-0, conceding two goals.

The home team took control of the ball from the first minutes but did not force the action. The Italians calmly increased the pace and in the 13th minute Napoli forward Giacomo Raspadori sent the ball into the goal, but did so from the offside.

However, a moment later, it was his pass that was closed by Inter defender Matteo Darmian. In the 40th minute, the Scudara Azzurra were awarded an 11-meter penalty, but midfielder Jorginho made a dandy save by jumping in front of the ball and failed to double his team's lead.

Nevertheless, before the break, Italy brought the score to a crushing one: a double by Juventus winger Federico Chiesa. After that, it seemed that the outcome of the match was decided.

At the very beginning of the second half, the visitors' midfielder Jani Atanasov managed to get the score on the board. After that, there was a series of substitutions, and Italy did not control the ball for longer, slowing down the pace. However, 15 minutes before the break, the same Atanasov scored another goal.

The guests wantedmake a comeback but ran into an Italian attack, which Raspadori finished with a great shot at the far post. Roma forward Stephan El Shaarawy put the match to an end.

Thus, the Italian national team is level on points with the Ukrainians but ahead of our team in personal meetings. In a face-to-face meeting on November 20, Serhii Rebrov's wards will be satisfied with only a victory to reach Euro 2024.

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