A superior Italian side had an easy ride to its third win in the Euro 2024 campaign, beating Malta with a 4-0 score to approach the do-or-die game against England on Tuesday with the best possible frame of mind.
After a week of tribulations following revelations regarding two national teams players allegedly involved in a betting scandal, Italy wiped away their off-field difficulties with an organised display against a Maltese team that committed too many errors at the back.
Malta was never much in the game except to defend, often in a quite disorganised way, and never put Italy keeper Donnarumma in any kind of trouble. The boys in red must turn up in better form on Tuesday at Ta’ Qali against Ukraine, while Italy will face England at Wembley needing a win to catch up with Southgate’s boys at the top of the table.
Italy defender Mancini hit the crossbar after a few minutes, a prelude to the Italians’ onslaught against the Maltese defence. Italy kept ball possession for long periods without creating too many chances, but when the right time came it was Jack Bonaventura who, on his return to the national team after three years, curled the ball home past Bonello after 23 minutes.
That settled the Italians, who appeared more in control from then onwards, and just before the break it was Berardi who doubled the score, the ball kissing the upright before ending in the net.
At 2-0, the match lost much of its lustre as the Maltese hardly reacted to the scoreline, preferring to remain anchored at the back rather than try any action up front.
The third goal arrived just past the hour, and it was Berardi again who beat Bonello, this time with a right-footed shot from inside the area after Kean had misread the cross from Raspadori.
The match was as good as over at this time, with little happening in the last minutes, until Frattesi made it 4-0 on the stroke of time.
For Malta it was the sixth defeat in as many matches.
LITHUANIA ALIVE FOR NOW
Pijus Širvys netted twice to help Lithuania win 2-0 at Bulgaria in Group G.
Both teams needed a win to stay in contention for an automatic qualifying position for Euro 2024 but Širvys scored either side of halftime to end Bulgaria’s hopes.
Fourth-place Lithuania still has a mountian to climb. It's eight points behind leader Hungary and five below second-place Serbia. Montenegro has three more points than Lithuania.
Hungary moved solo atop the group with a 2-1 win over Serbia, having played a match less than its opponent.
In the 33rd, Serbia defender Strahinja Pavlović canceled out Barnabas Varga’s opener but Roland Sallai restored Hungary’s lead a minute later.
TIGHT FIGHT
Slovenia and Denmark both won again to maintain their tight fight for top spot in Group H.
Slovenia beat Finland 3-0, while Denmark saw off Kazakhstan 3-1.
There has been little to separate both teams which are level on 16 points. Both have also conceded six goals in seven matches, with Slovenia having scored one more than Denmark.
The first tiebreaker is head-to-head results. They drew 1-1 when they met in Slovenia in June. They play again in Denmark next month. Neither team has secured qualification yet from the six-team group.
Finland and Kazakhstan are four points behind and six above Northern Ireland, which beat San Marino 3-0.