Defending champions Italy strengthened their bid to qualify for Euro 2024 by beating North Macedonia.
Needing a victory to ensure a point against Ukraine on Monday will be enough to secure their place in Germany next year, the Italians took the lead through Matteo Darmian’s header.
Arsenal’s Jorginho missed a penalty but a Federico Chiesa double made it 3-0.
Jani Atanasov scored twice for North Macedonia but Giacomo Raspadori and Stephan El Shaarawy wrapped up the win.
The result means Italy move up to second in Group C, behind already-qualified England.
Line-ups
Italy
Formation 4-3-3
- 1G Donnarumma
- 13Darmian
- 4Gatti
- 15AcerbiBooked at 89mins
- 3Dimarco
- 18Barella
- 8JorginhoSubstituted forCristanteat 62′minutes
- 7BonaventuraSubstituted forFrattesiat 62′minutes
- 11BerardiSubstituted forEl Shaarawyat 76′minutes
- 10RaspadoriSubstituted forScamaccaat 90′minutes
- 14ChiesaSubstituted forZanioloat 62′minutesBooked at 72mins
Substitutes
- 2Lazzari
- 5Mancini
- 6Buongiorno
- 9Scamacca
- 12Provedel
- 16Cristante
- 17Frattesi
- 19Politano
- 20Zaniolo
- 21Carnesecchi
- 22El Shaarawy
- 23Cambiaso
North Macedonia
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Dimitrievski
- 15ManevSubstituted forAshkovskiat 45′minutesBooked at 80mins
- 4SerafimovBooked at 87mins
- 6Musliu
- 14Dimoski
- 5AdemiSubstituted forAtanasovat 45′minutes
- 17EleziSubstituted forAlimiat 64′minutes
- 8Alioski
- 9MiovskiSubstituted forRistovskiat 45′minutesBooked at 84mins
- 10Bardhi
- 7ElmasSubstituted forChurlinovat 72′minutesBooked at 79mins
Substitutes
- 2Iljazovski
- 3Ashkovski
- 11Churlinov
- 12Aleksovski
- 13Mitrovski
- 16Babunski
- 18Alimi
- 19Ristovski
- 20Daci
- 21Atanasov
- 22Shishkovski
- 23Todoroski
Live Text
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Match ends, Italy 5, North Macedonia 2.
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Second Half ends, Italy 5, North Macedonia 2.
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Gianluca Scamacca (Italy) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Isnik Alimi (North Macedonia).
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Foul by Bryan Cristante (Italy).
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Enis Bardhi (North Macedonia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Goal! Italy 5, North Macedonia 2. Stephan El Shaarawy (Italy) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Federico Dimarco following a corner.
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Attempt blocked. Stephan El Shaarawy (Italy) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Corner, Italy. Conceded by Visar Musliu.
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Offside, Italy. Nicolò Barella tries a through ball, but Stephan El Shaarawy is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Gianluca Scamacca (Italy) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Nicolò Barella with a through ball following a fast break.
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Substitution, Italy. Gianluca Scamacca replaces Giacomo Raspadori.
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Francesco Acerbi (Italy) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Francesco Acerbi (Italy).
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Stefan Ashkovski (North Macedonia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Nikola Serafimov (North Macedonia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Giacomo Raspadori (Italy) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Nikola Serafimov (North Macedonia).
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Foul by Nicolò Zaniolo (Italy).
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Stole Dimitrievski (North Macedonia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
