Inter Milan wingback Federico Dimarco has come under fire for a defensive error for Italy in yesterday’s 2-1 EURO 2024 qualifying win over Ukraine.
Today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, criticize the 25-year-old for the sloppy play that allowed Andriy Shevchenko to score the goal that allowed Ukraine back into the match.
Italy managed to secure three vital points towards EURO 2024 qualification yesterday.
The Azzurri saw off Ukraine after a first-half Davide Frattesi brace.
But Italy didn’t quite get the chance to go into cruise control mode for the second half of the match. A goal from Yarmolenko a few minutes before the interval was enough to make sure of that.
And Tuttosport place the blame for the goal squarely on Dimarco.
Federico Dimarco Under Fire For Defensive Error To Allow Ukraine Goal
After Italy went 2-0 up, Ukraine started to apply more pressure in search of a goal back.
There were some dangerous situations, including calling Azzurri goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma into action.
But it was just after the forty-minute mark that Ukraine broke through.
Ukraine striker Artem Dobvyk took a powerful shot, which Italy keeper Donnarumma was able to save.
However, the effort had too much power on it for the keeper to hold. Therefore, the Paris Saint-Germain keeper could only spill the ball at the feet of Dimarco, though Tuttosport consider the keeper blameless given the difficulty of the save.
Under pressure, Dimarco lost his composure.
The Inter wingback virtually passed the ball straight to Dynamo Kiev striker Yarmolenko. The former West Ham United and Borussia Dortmund made no mistake and pulled a goal back.
Therefore, Italy had to see out a nervy win in the second half.
Tuttosport give Dimarco a score of 5.5/10 in the player ratings for the match. There were a few smart runs and classy crosses at the attacking end of the pitch, but defensively he was not up to par.