Italy 2-1 Ukraine: Azzurri qualification hopes rise as Davide Frattesi double enough to secure three points

Davide Frattesi hit a classy first-half double as European champions Italy boosted their Euro 2024 qualifying hopes with a nervy 2-1 win over Ukraine in Milan.

After being held to a shock 1-1 draw in North Macedonia on Saturday, Luciano Spalletti’s men moved above Ukraine into second place in Group C on goal difference, six points behind leaders England.

Inter midfielder Frattesi punished some sloppy defending to slam home the opener at an expectant San Siro on 12 minutes, before swivelling to add a second goal on 29 minutes after VAR deemed he was played onside in the visiting area.

Ukraine breathed fresh life into their hopes when Andriy Yarmolenko slipped the ball into the net from close range after some slipshod defending on 41 minutes.

Despite some nervy moments in a frantic second period, Italy managed to hold on for the crucial three points.

Manuel Locatelli walloped the bar as the home side chased a third, and Yukhym Konoplya powered a header wide from substitute Mykhailo Mudryk’s cross for Ukraine late on, with the relief palpable among Azzurri fans at full-time.

Luciano Spalletti will know that his first win as Italy coach was vital for his future health in the role after the disappointing 1-1 debut draw in North Macedonia.

With European Championship-winning manager Roberto Mancini departing the role last month to head for Saudi Arabia, it was vital that Spalletti enjoyed the home comforts of the San Siro as much as his team.

He handed starts to Giacomo Raspadori, Nicolo Zaniolo, Giorgio Scalvini, Manuel Locatelli and Davide Frattesi, who contributed two fine goals to inspire the victory.

His decision to hand the captain’s armband to goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was also rewarded with a solid display despite abuse from fans nursing lingering memories of his time at Milan.

Italy next face Malta and England in Group C in October when the significance of this victory will become clearer.

Two fine goals from Frattesi in the first half helped Italy regain the winning habit after being held to an underwhelming 1-1 draw in North Macedonia.

It was far from perfect from Italy at the San Siro, but the European champions will hope this victory can be the springboard to greater days ahead as they bid to join England in qualifying.

Frattesi can be content with an outstanding contribution for his country.

Italy: Gianluigi Donnarumma 7, Alessandro Bastoni 7, Giorgio Scalvini 7, Federico Dimarco 7, Giovanni Di Lorenzo 7, Manuel Locatelli 7, Nicolo Barella 7, Davide Frattesi 8, Giacomo Raspadori 7, Mattia Zaccagni 7, Nicolò Zaniolo 7 Subs: Cristiano Biraghi 6, Bryan Cristante 6, Mateo Retegui 6, Wilfried Gnonto 6, Riccardo Orsolini 6

Ukraine: Georgiy Bushchan 7, Serhiy Kryvtsov 6, Illia Zabarnyi 6, Vitalii Mykolenko 6, Yukhym Konoplia 6, Heorhii Sudakov 6, Oleksandr Zinchenko 7, Taras Stepanenko 7, Artem Dovbyk 8, Viktor Tsygankov 6, Andriy Yarmolenko 6 Subs: Vitaliy Buyalskiy 6, Serhiy Sydorchuk 6, Roman Yaremchuk 6, Vladyslav Vanat 6, Mykhailo Mudryk 7

12′ GOAL FOR ITALY! – Ukraine all over the show in defence as they lose possession, and Davide Frattesi accepts the pass from Mattia Zaccagni to slam the ball low and hard into the net. A fine goal. And deserved opener too.

29′ A SECOND GOAL FOR ITALY – And it is that man Davide Frattesi again who swivels to knock the ball into the net after it came off Serhiy Kryvtsov and broke kindly to him. VAR has a look at whether or not it was offside. Well onside. A 2-0 lead for the home side.

41′ GOAL FOR UKRAINE! – The visitors back in the ball game in Milan as Andrii Yarmolenko keeps his head to slide the ball into the net after Artem Dovbyk saw his effort blocked. Much better from the visiting side. They trail 2-1. Italy defence looking none too clever.

63′ ITALY SO CLOSE TO THE THIRD! – That looked a certain Italian goal as Giacomo Raspadori gets his shot away inside the area, but Georgiy Bushchan gets down to nudge that past the post. Brilliant stop really.

70′ AND STILL THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS THREATEN – Not sure how Italy haven’t put this match to bed with Manuel Locatelli seeing his shot coming back off the Ukraine bar. The visitors living on the edge here.