Euro 2024 roundup: Frattesi guides Italy past Ukraine, Spain hit Cyprus for six
Davide Frattesi scored twice as Italy claimed a crucial 2-1 win over Ukraine in Milan to keep their hopes of reaching next year’s European Championship finals alive.
The defending champions headed into the game trailing their second-placed rivals by five points in Group C following Saturday’s draw with North Macedonia. But Frattesi’s double in the first 30 minutes gave the Italians valuable breathing space, despite Andriy Yarmolenko reducing the deficit before the break.
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Ferran Torres scored twice to help Spain earn a comfortable 6-0 win against bottom side Cyprus in Group A, with Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal becoming his country’s youngest-ever starter aged 16 years and 61 days.
It was another record for Yamal, who had become his country’s youngest international and goalscorer on Friday when he made his debut in a 7-1 win away to Georgia. He was once again electric on the right wing and created several opportunities before he was substituted early in the second half. The teenager’s curling shot that hit the post in the 39th minute enabled Álvaro Morata to score from the rebound but the effort was ruled out by the VAR for offside.
Spain’s first-half goals, however, came through assists by another talented young winger, Athletic Bilbao’s 21-year-old Nico Williams. Gavi struck to give the Spain an early lead in the 18th minute and Mikel Merino headed in the second goal 15 minutes later, both from crosses by Williams, who had a shot from point-blank range denied by goalkeeper Joel Mall a little later.
Lamine Yamal was electric for Spain on the day he became his country’s youngest-ever starter. Photograph: Soccrates Images/Getty Images
Substitute Joselu scored the third with a header in the 70th minute and Torres, Alex Baena and Torres again finished off Spain’s demolition job with close-range strikes.
Spain are second in Group A on nine points after four matches. They trail leaders Scotland by six points but have a game in hand.
Belgium and Austria cemented their status as joint leaders of Group F with convincing wins over Estonia and Sweden respectively. Romelu Lukaku scored twice in Belgium’s 5-0 stroll over the Baltic nation, while Marko Arnautovic also hit a double as Austria impressed with a 3-1 win in Solna.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring as Norway beat Georgia 2-1 in Group A in a game that could have seen Scotland seal automatic qualification had it ended in a draw.
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The qualifier between Romania and Kosovo was suspended for just under an hour on Tuesday after Romanian fans repeatedly shouted provocative chants. The game in Bucharest was stopped in the 18th minute after some of the crowd chanted “Serbia, Serbia” and a player confronted people in the stands displaying a sign saying “Kosovo is Serbia”, with the referee sending the players back to the changing rooms.
“The match has resumed after play was suspended due to discriminatory behaviour from some supporters,” Uefa said on its website after an interruption of 50 minutes. Kosovo’s Vedat Muriqi was sent off just before half-time and the hosts won 2-0 with both goals in the last 10 minutes.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and won recognition from more than 100 countries, but not from Serbia. Kosovo and Romania are in Group I, which is headed by Switzerland with 14 points.