Ukraine vs Italy: Can Ukraine Retain Their Third Place Today!

Ukraine is currently in the third position in Group C with fourteen points and is leveled up by Italy, which has thirteen points. In addition, Italy has a better head-to-head record since it won 2–1 in Ukraine in September. Ukraine plays its last group stage game in the next two days and needs three points to qualify for the EURO 2024.

Ukraine has recorded three victories, one draw, and one defeat in the previous three months. Their last match was a friendly with the unrecognized international football federation involving Polish club Lechia Gdansk on November 16. Despite this possibility, it will be difficult for Ukraine to qualify through playoffs in case of a backlash.

Italy will qualify for EURO 2024 after defeating North Macedonia on November 17. However, Italy will require at least one point from the upcoming match. In the event of failure, they will always have a play-off position, but there is the danger of the same happening as in the football World Cup of 2022, where they completely flopped.

Lista de The host country, Ukraine poses a formidable opponent whose success has seen it rise to become European champions. This is discussed further in our Ukraine versus Italy betting tips. After hiring the current coach Luciano Spalletti, in August, the defending European champions have achieved three wins, a draw, and a loss.

The most recent impressive results for the team were the 5-2 win against North Macedonia on November 17. Another problem for Italy is that they must play away from home and recover after a hard-fought game in Rome. All this Ukraine vs Italy odds analysis will be taken into account.

Let’s take a look at today’s match highlights:

First-half begins!!

• In the 2^nd minute, the ball is whipped in from the left for Italy, but Chiesa's attempt is hindered as he is caught on his heels, unable to control it. The ball rolls out to Raspadori on the edge of the box, but his first-time effort meets a solid block from a well-positioned Svatok.
• In the 5^th minute, a more promising play from Ukraine as Stepanenko slides the ball forward. Tsygankov, finding ample space in the middle, takes a shot on goal. However, Donnarumma makes a comfortable save, maintaining Italy's defensive stance.
• Remarkable chance for Italy in the 7th minute, short corner. A winding ball from Barella goes into the far post, and Zaniolo surprisingly keeps it in play, heading it into Chiesa. But Chiesa shoots wide of the target for a volley miscue.
• In the blink of an eye, Ukraine responded in the same seventh minute after that missed opportunity. Buongiorni had intentionally pulled back Dovbyk while running on the left side, sending him off for being among the first ones booked, which would significantly affect his play performance.
• In the 11th minute, Zaniolo does an impressive run, slipping two Ukrainians and making a cut off the right. None of his teammates made it to the far post, so he failed to score despite delivering a good ball into a promising area.
• Ukraine gets momentum, leading to a fantastic save in the 14th minute. Sudakov passes the ball to Tsygunkov, which creates an opportunity, and Sudakov shoots after combining with the first ball. However, a quick save by Donnarumma saves the day for Italy.
• However, in the 16th minute, Italy responded with another aggressive move, obtaining a corner. Barella capitalizes on the short set piece taken, carefully dribbling it over the box's edge. He shoots, but Trubin responds with a remarkable save.
• In the 24th minute. Di Lorenzo keeps a firm grip on Mudryk, which explains why the blue team struggles with advancement. Surprisingly, they do not depend much on Dovbyk, despite Buongiorno getting an early booking against him.”
• Mykolenko prevents another Frattesi’s breakthrough in the 26th minute and tries to conduct a quick retaliation move with Mudryk. Nevertheless, it loosely leads the ball out of bounds.
• Heads to the corner flag in the 28th minute – a near miss. He kicks it back into the near post this time, and the unmarked man named Di Lorenzo heads slightly beyond the target.
• In the 29th minute, Chiesa breaks through the middle and has options on either side. He plays a pass to Frattesi on his left side with a low shot on goal, excellently saved by Trubin’s legs. Svatok kicks the ball through the back of him.
• In the 30th minute, Barella makes another offensive pressure and passes the ball by Dimarco who makes the shot but narrowly misses into the goalpost. Nevertheless, Dimarco was offside, and their flag went up.
• In the 32nd minute, Chiesa combines with his teammate Dimarco and beats Konoplya. After that, Chiesa makes a good one in the cross going towards the far post, but Raspadori fails to reach it on a stretch. It can be felt that there will be an Italian goal any minute now.
• In the 40’th minute, however, Buongiorno pushes out the ball on the left-hand side, and Dimarco tries linking up with Barella. Nevertheless, the follow-up pass from Barella is inaccurate as Ukraine temporarily escapes through its defenders.
• Over time, as the game moves to the 42nd minute, an opportunity comes up for Italy. Chisa makes an evasive run towards the Ukrainian goal area only to be halted. Frastessi blocks Chiesa’s first shot from outside the penalty area, while Chiesa also blocks Frastessi’s. However, the game turns into confusion as Frattesi commits an own goal.
• Half-time sees the match score at 0:0 between Ukraine and Italy by close.

Second-half begins!!!

• Substitution in Italy at the start of the second half takes place in the 46th minute. Raspadori is replaced by Scamacca, who plays as the central striker.
• After an action by Italy in the 48th minute, the opponents earn another corner from which the ball ends up outside the area at Zaniolo’s feet on the edge of the d. Very cautiously, he crosses it to Scamacca, whose shot, after a raise of flags, missed the target and flew over the bar.
• It seems like Scamacca has come on for the team’s final push in the 50th minute. He floats a charming ball on top of Chiesa but doesn’t make it out through Zabarnyi for clear sight of the goal.
• In the 58th minute, Chiesa tries to shoot home from the left. At some point during this time, though, he tries a shot but goes wide of Trubin's post at the far end.
• In the 62nd minute, Another good delivery is provided by Chiesa on the left side, and it heads over the bar through a header by Di Lorenzo. Spalletti asks Scamacca to join him on the right and assist with making forward runs.
• In the 65th minute, although Donnarumma erroneously anticipates Konoplya's long throw-in, he redeems himself by quickly sliding to prevent Mudryk's one-touch shot.
• In the 67th minute, The chaos of a backheel flick in the box by Zinchenko and the failure of Tsygankov to reach the ball. Acerbi clears a corner and puts Italy under fire.
• In the 69th minute, The Italians have difficulty leaving their half as Dovbyk protects Mudryk's headler. On the other hand, the visitors get rid of the danger, however.
• In the 71st minute, Zaniolo points to the side of his groin, signaling he is injured. Politano replaces him while Cristante joins in.
• In the 76th minute, Chiesa goes up against Konoplya, outmans him by sliding around, retrieves his shot, and feeds it to Scamacca. Nevertheless, the striker's effort to prod the ball into the net turns out wide.
• In the 79th minute, Knownply's frustration manifests in a foul against Chiese, resulting in him getting booked.
• In the 80th minute, Ukraine does a double-substitute and replaces Stepanenko with Pikhalyonok.
• Thus, Zubkov comes in to replace a struggling Tsygankov, with whom he is paired against Dovbyk.
• In the 81st minute, Italy replaces Chiesa by making and substituting for precaution. Kean comes on for Chiesa.
• In the 86th minute, after medical assistance is rendered for his leg, Sudakov goes on, and Ukraine performs two exchanges. Sikan replaces Zinchenko, while Tymchyk takes over Konoplya.
• In the 90' + 1' minute, Ukraine finally brings on Malinovskyi for one last sub at 5 minutes of added time with a bit more attacking flair.
• This strategy is quite a surprise in the 90' + 2' minute since it shows that Italy is looking to adopt a defensive switch. A substitute defender, namely Darmian, comes in for Politano, who had entered the game 20 minutes earlier.
• In the 90 + 3'minute, as Ukraine is working the ball into the box, there are shouts for a penalty while Modyk goes down under a challenge from Cristante. The referee, however, dismisses the appeals, so no fines are imposed.

The match between Ukraine and Italy concludes with a goalless draw.