The Italian press appears almost embarrassed by Italy’s controversial qualification for Euro 2024 at the expense of Ukraine.
Winner of Euro 2021,Italy has, as often in recent years, trembled during the qualifying phases of a major international competition. But unlike the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, the Nazionale managed to qualify, and without going through the play-offs.
It was not without difficulty since Luciano Spalletti’s men had to wait until the last match to validate their ticket to Germany. Monday evening in Leverkusen, the Italians played a final in Group C, the loser of which would have to face the difficult stage of the play-offs. It is ultimately Ukraine, 3rd in the group after the 0-0 draw, which will have to go through.
A penalty not whistled which is debated
But this match will leave a bitter taste for the Ukrainians due to the penalty not awarded to Mykhaylo Mudryk in the 93rd minute. Ukrainian coach Sergei Rebrov showed his anger after the match by ensuring that his team should have benefited from a penalty.
Now that the fear is over, laugh or no? #UcrainaItalia pic.twitter.com/eMaYw791Vz
— GuillaumeMP (@Guillaumemp) November 20, 2023
In Italy, there are airs of France 2010 (after the qualification of the Blues following a hand from Thierry Henry) since a certain discomfort is felt in the Corriere dello Sport this Tuesday. “It’s less beautiful that way. We must be honest, and avoid listing the numerous refereeing errors which in the past have deprived us of success, titles and damaged our livers: in the last seconds, the referee Gil Manzano pretended not to see the penalty which would have allowed Ukraine to take advantage of a great opportunity. The VAR assistant had fled to the toilet for a moment (inflamed prostate, I imagine). In short, it didn’t go well, but it went very well”we can read in the transalpine daily, which recognizes the dispute over this situation.
In such a context, the words of UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin are even more controversial. He had in fact described a possible non-qualification of the reigning European champions for the next edition of the Euro as a “disaster”.
