Inter left-back Federico Dimarco has insisted that qualification for the Euros is an ‘obligation’ for Italy and has told reporters again that his recent wonder-strike against Frosinone was intentional.
Dimarco was interviewed by Rai Sport on Saturday, following the Azzurri’s 5-2 win over North Macedonia at the Stadio Olimpico on Friday evening.
Though there were no 50-yard screamers for Dimarco, his Inter colleague and fellow full-back Matteo Darmian did open the scoring. His strike was added to by a Federico Chiesa double and goals from Giacomo Raspadori and Stephan El-Shaarawy.
Italy, second in Group C of Euro 2024 qualification, now require just one point in their final game against Ukraine on Monday night to guarantee their place at the final tournament in the summer.
Dimarco tole Rai, reported via Gianluca Di Marzio, that the team still need to be wary of Ukraine, who will qualify at Italy’s expense if they win on Monday.
“All matches at international level are difficult, but maybe you can catch a team having a bad day. But Ukraine is a strong national side and we have to be careful in every moment of the game,” Dimarco said.
He continued: “I think qualifying for the Euros is almost an obligation. Italy won the last one, and the fans demand that we qualify again.”
On Friday’s win over North Macedonia, Dimarco added: “We played a great game, we created a lot, we were proactive and we did what the coach asked of us during the week.
“We have some high points and some lower moments during matches, it happens, and in those seven minutes we stopped playing a bit . But then afterwards we started playing well again, created, and we scored two goals which saw the game off.
“Many teams, after having scored two goals, sit back and try to defend the result. Not us, we were on the front foot and created a lot.”
Dimarco was also asked about his recent and spectacular long-range lob for Inter, specifically whether he did or did not intend to shoot.
“That was a shot on goal,” he replied. “Out of the corner of my eye I looked at Dumfries, but thenI turned my head and saw the goalkeeper. I noticed that he was off his line. For better or worse, I had a go and the ball went in.”