UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying: Saturday preview
Saturday, September 9, 2023
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Luciano Spalletti will be hoping to ensure that his debut as Italy coach is dramatic for the right reasons.
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The European Qualifiers for UEFA EURO 2024 continue on Saturday, and Italy need to be on their game if they are to stay on course for a place in next summer's finals in Germany.
Matchday 5 fixtures and results
Thursday 7 September 2023
Group B: France 2-0 Republic of Ireland, Netherlands 3-0 Greece
Group E: Czechia 1-1 Albania, Poland 2-0 Faroe Islands
Group G: Lithuania 2-2 Montenegro, Serbia 1-2 Hungary
Group H: Kazakhstan 0-1 Finland, Denmark 4-0 San Marino, Slovenia 4-2 Northern Ireland
Friday 8 September 2023
Group A: Georgia 1-7 Spain, Cyprus 0-3 Scotland
Group D: Croatia 5-0 Latvia, Türkiye 1-1 Armenia
Group J: Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-1 Liechtenstein, Luxembourg 3-1 Iceland, Slovakia 0-1 Portugal
Saturday 9 September 2023
Group C: Ukraine vs England (18:00), North Macedonia vs Italy
Group F: Azerbaijan vs Belgium (15:00), Estonia vs Sweden (18:00)
Group I: Andorra vs Belarus (18:00), Kosovo vs Switzerland, Romania vs Israel
All kick-off times 20:45 CET unless noted
Coach Spalletti faces troublesome Italy debut
Aged 11, Luciano Spalletti asked his mother to sew him an Italian flag to celebrate the Azzurri beating West Germany in the 1970 FIFA World Cup semi-finals. The 64-year-old has now pledged to "carry that flag with me on to the the national team bench" after replacing Roberto Mancini as Italy boss in August following his predecessor's move to Saudi Arabia.
Spalletti's first Italy squad features four member of the Napoli side he led to Serie A title glory last season, but a game against North Macedonia will bring back some troubling memories of the 1-0 loss in Palermo that cost the European champions a place in the 2022 World Cup finals. "We need to forget the bitterness of a result which left scars on us and play a style of football that people like," urged Spalletti. "A style of play that brings together an important footballing nation."
Did you know? Italy are unbeaten in their last 21 EURO qualifiers away from home (W17 D4) since a 3-1 loss away to France in September 2006.
What else to look out for
- Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah and Chelsea centre-back Levi Colwill will look to make their debuts as England welcome Ukraine on Saturday; Gareth Southgate's side are six points clear at the top of Group C.
- Romelu Lukaku was joint-top scorer in qualifying with Denmark forward Rasmus Højlund heading into this round of matches. Can you take the lead outright by finding the net in Azerbaijan?
