Late penalty drama has dominated the discourse after Italy’s tense draw with Ukraine in their key Euro 2024 qualifier.
In the 92nd minute of the final qualifying match of Group C at the BayArena, Roma’s Bryan Cristante came together with Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk in the Italy penalty area. In real time it was debatably a penalty and Ukraine were incensed when referee Jesús Gil Manzano allowed play to continue without personally checking the VAR monitor.
Italy held on and saw out the goalless draw, a result that secured their second-place finish in Group C, booking their spot in next summer’s European Championship in Germany. In post-match reviews, the late penalty drama proved to be the number one talking point.
Page two of today’s Gazzetta dello Sport reflected on the incident, weighing in on the referee’s decision and if Ukraine should’ve been awarded a late penalty against Italy.
“The Azzurri player’s foot seems to touch the right foot of the Ukrainian attacker, who immediately falls to the ground as if struck by electricity.
“The fact remains that Gil Manzano didn’t give the penalty, he waited and then VAR (Munuera) let it go by endorsing the decision from the field.”
Former Inter defender Beppe Bergomi gave his opinion in the studios of Sky Sports Italia, saying: “The touch is there, Mudryk is early. The referee never called a foul on the player in the whole match, also due to the way he fell.
“He certainly judged it that way, but I thought: if it had happened, I don’t know how we would’ve reacted. Then if I think back to the past, to the 2002 World Cup, I’d say it’s okay. But if the roles were reversed, what would we have said? The contact is there, little to add.”
All Cristante does is plant his right food. He doesn’t make contact with the opposing player, and most certainly doesn’t trip him up. It was also not a clear and obvious error for var to intervene. Clutching at straws.
foot*
One time nothing was called, today everything is called – even if you breath on a player int he box…
Nice to see them get the call right..
To me, a clear penalty. The contact was there. Mudryk was first in a goal opportunity. Let’s face it, like Bergoni said, if that would been a reverse situation, most probably the ref would have called a penalty. Even though, Italy dominated first half, it doesn’t cancel the clumsy play by Cristante. Should have given the foul.
If the referee had blown for penalty it would be career ending whistle. Collina and Infantino was in their minds. Robbery!
Cristante touched the ball first, then the Ukraine fell to the ground, perfect defending
No one wants to talk of the real call that was missed in March 2022 when he Macedonian handled the ball before striking their second ball on net after being out played the whole grand. Why? Is that non use of VAR not 200x more egregious?
In this case Mudryk dragged his foot looking for contact and was alert air born, the ball already well past his control. He was diving all match too.
My point remains. When Italy POA legitimately screwed the English speaking world ignores it, don’t they?
Ukraine still have an opportunity to go through
Not a penalty, he over exaggerated the fall, if there was contact it was ever so slight, not enough to give a foul. Correct decision.
Italy was the best side all night
Missed clear opportunities to score
The incident in the box was 50-50 at best and Mudryk did his best to exaggerate the fall
Not a penalty! First touch was atrocious from the forward and two Italy defenders plus Donnarumma there to clean it up. Forward would never have got to it.
He knew he couldn’t get to the ball so his quick thinking was to fall and collide with the Italian defender. No penalty!
I made a comment that was not approved. Why? Is it because I put a pic link in the website box? Why is that not allowed?
Macedonian striker handled the ball before scoring on their second shot of the game in march 2022. Why was this ignored universally by the press. People are not that observant, and generally will not speak about something that has been blacked out by the media. I think this was one of the biggest scandals of all time.
It didn’t force Italy into a playoff, it eliminated them on the spot.
No VAR.
Nothing was used.
Scandalous
It was a penalty and very clumpsy of Cristante. The penalty would have been taken to perhaps put the Italians to their knees.
So glad the ref and var bottled it. It was a penalty. Contact was there and yes Mykhailo may have known what he was doing but contact is contact. Seen many similar given. Certainly glad we can debate the issue with my Azzurri safely through. FORZA AZZURRI