Scandal-hit Italy maintain Euro push with Malta win

Italy bounced back from a scandal-hit week with a commanding 3-0 victory over Malta in their Euro 2024 qualifying Group C match. Domenico Berardi scored twice, Giacomo Bonaventura netted his first goal for Italy, and Davide Frattesi added a late strike to secure the win. The victory helped Italy regain the second automatic qualifying spot, overtaking Ukraine who defeated North Macedonia earlier in the day. The Azzurri will now face England in a crucial match at Wembley, where they won the last Euro tournament.

Malta, sitting at the bottom of the group, has yet to earn a point in the competition and showed little resistance against Ukraine. If Italy fails to defeat England, they may find themselves in third place heading into their final two matches against North Macedonia and Ukraine. The win against Malta came after a challenging period for the Italian squad, dealing with injuries and a betting scandal that disrupted their preparations. Despite the setbacks, Luciano Spalletti’s team demonstrated their resilience and dominated the game in front of over 56,000 spectators in Bari.

Midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura opened the scoring with a remarkable curled shot in the first half. Domenico Berardi then doubled Italy’s lead with an impressive strike from outside the box just before halftime. Berardi completed his brace in the 64th minute with a well-placed finish, while Davide Frattesi sealed the victory with a late goal in stoppage time. The win put Italy in a favorable position for qualification to the Euro 2024 tournament in Germany, as they aim to make amends for missing the previous World Cup.

Italy’s upcoming match against England at Wembley holds significant importance, as it will determine their positioning in the group. The Azzurri will seek to replicate their success from the last Euro tournament and secure their place among Europe’s elite national teams.

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