Federico Dimarco acknowledges Italy ‘stopped playing’ after the Ciro Immobile opener and allowed North Macedonia back into the match.
It was the debut under new coach Luciano Spalletti and the pressure was on in Skopje for the EURO 2024 qualifying group that started badly with three points from two games.
After Sandro Tonali thumped the upright, Immobile opened the scoring at the dawn of the second half and had seemingly put them on the right track.
However, Enis Bardhi fired in a sensational free kick from the edge of the area to give North Macedonia the 1-1 result.
“After our goal, we stopped playing and at this level when you stop playing, it just takes a couple of chances to open it all up again,” Dimarco told RAI Sport.
“All they needed was a free kick to get the point. Now we have to play like Italy against Ukraine and take all three points. It is an important match for our future.”
The Azzurri will host Ukraine at San Siro on Tuesday evening and that is now decisive, because the group is increasingly tight for EURO 2024 qualification.
The top two qualify, with the third going into the play-offs, but it remains a tense situation, especially after missing out on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
“If we play the way we did in the first half, then we can do well. We must not make the same mistakes that we did in the second half today. We have got to win against Ukraine.”
stop talking and start scoring
Same old italy!!!. Nothing changes
Get rid of immobile he does not run or pressure the ball.
There is no Azzurri offense if Federico Chiesa is not on the pitch. No Chiesa, and Italy doesn’t come within 100 miles of winning the 2020 Euro’s. Every significant goal is the result of Chiesa creating something out of nothing and by virtue of his creativity, feel for the game, speed and instincts getting himself into open space. The team cannot score in a unified, co-ordinated attacking mode because they simply have no one who can finish. Immobile is a disaster and continues to be loved by these managers. Meanwhile Retegui in a short time has proven himself to be able to finish with great instincts and decisive reaction around goal. Therefore he – and Raspadori who has great energy and movement – must of course be relegated to the bench. It would take an Antonio Conte to mould this offense into something.
N mau, he scored today…hellooo ? He did what he supposed to do—score goals. He’s a striker, not a full back
@ N mau , without Immobile’s goals they would be worse ! What are you on about!
I agree Anthony I think the only coach who can get anything out of these players would be conte . Look what he did with 2016 squad which was considered one of Italy least talented
i lke conte the best they should of taken himteams used to fear italy in qalifing group now they want italy easy escalator