Italy Qualifies for Euro 2024, Avoids Playoffs 

Italy players celebrate their qualifying after the Euro 2024 group C qualifying soccer match between Ukraine and Italy at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. (AP)
Italy players celebrate their qualifying after the Euro 2024 group C qualifying soccer match between Ukraine and Italy at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. (AP)
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Italy Qualifies for Euro 2024, Avoids Playoffs 

Italy players celebrate their qualifying after the Euro 2024 group C qualifying soccer match between Ukraine and Italy at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. (AP)
Italy players celebrate their qualifying after the Euro 2024 group C qualifying soccer match between Ukraine and Italy at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. (AP)

Italy earned some redemption by qualifying for next year’s European Championship on Monday, while Slovenia and the Czech Republic also secured their spots.

Czech coach Jaroslav Šilhavý resigned shortly after the final whistle against Moldova.

Italy needed just a point against Ukraine to claim second spot in Group C and avoid the dreaded playoffs, and it managed a 0-0 draw in Germany. However, there were some nervy moments for the Azzurri.

Italy failed to qualify for the past two World Cups after losing playoffs — to Sweden and North Macedonia. After the Azzurri missed out on the 2018 World Cup, they went on to win the following European Championship.

"We are very happy. We are where we deserve to be, after all the difficulties that we had," Italy captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma said. "But thanks to the new coach and the staff we have returned.

"Now it’s right that we go there and we go there to bring back something, even to win it because we are going there as winners."

Ukraine would have sneaked past Italy with a win but will now head into the playoffs. England was already assured of top spot in the group and it drew at North Macedonia 1-1 to finish the campaign unbeaten.

A point would also have been enough for Slovenia and the Czech Republic to advance to Euro 2024 and they beat Kazakhstan and Moldova respectively to end their opponents’ hopes of qualifying automatically for a first major international tournament.

Kazakhstan still has a chance via the playoffs. It will play Greece in a semifinal on March 21 and — if it wins — either Georgia or Luxembourg five days later.

The top two finishers from each of the 10 groups advance. Another three spots will be determined in a playoff linked to performances in the Nations League. Host Germany automatically qualifies.

LATE DRAMA

Ukraine was angered by a decision not to give a penalty in stoppage time for what seemed like a trip on Mykhailo Mudryk by Bryan Cristante.

Federico Chiesa, Giovanni di Lorenzo and Davide Frattesi all missed excellent chances in the first half for Italy, for which Donnarumma charged down a shot by Mudryk to stop Ukraine taking the lead. His own misjudgment off a long throw gave Mudryk the chance.

It was the first time Italy failed to score in a European Championship qualifier in more than 13 years.

The match took place at the stadium of Bundesliga leader Bayer Leverkusen because Ukraine cannot play international games at home for security reasons during the military invasion by Russia. Russia was banned from Euro 2024 qualifying.

Russia thrashed Cuba 8-0 in a friendly on Monday with eight different goal-scorers. The result was one goal shy of its record 9-0 win over San Marino in qualifying for Euro 2020.

COACH QUITS

Šilhavý resigned shortly after steering his side to a 3-0 win over 10-man Moldova. The 62-year-old Šilhavý, who had been in charge for five years, said the decision had already been made before the match.

Not content with qualifying for only its second major tournament, Albania ensured it did so as Group E winner after drawing with the Faeroe Islands 0-0.

That saw Albania finish above the Czech Republic thanks to a superior head-to-head record.

There were fireworks before the match in Tirana while fans also held aloft a giant banner that read: "God is Albanian."

A QUARTER CENTURY

Slovenia will play in the European Championship for the first time in nearly a quarter century.

A late goal from Benjamin Verbič saw Slovenia beat Kazakhstan 2-1 and qualify for the tournament for the first time since Euro 2000.

Denmark was already guaranteed to finish top of Group H and it lost away to Northern Ireland 2-0.

Pyry Soiri scored twice to help third-placed Finland win in San Marino 2-1.



McLaren Boss Calls for Permanent F1 Stewards after Herbert Axed

Formula One F1 - Las Vegas Grand Prix - Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States - November 21, 2024 McLaren chief executive Zak Brown before practice REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein a
Formula One F1 - Las Vegas Grand Prix - Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States - November 21, 2024 McLaren chief executive Zak Brown before practice REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein a
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McLaren Boss Calls for Permanent F1 Stewards after Herbert Axed

Formula One F1 - Las Vegas Grand Prix - Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States - November 21, 2024 McLaren chief executive Zak Brown before practice REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein a
Formula One F1 - Las Vegas Grand Prix - Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States - November 21, 2024 McLaren chief executive Zak Brown before practice REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein a

McLaren boss Zak Brown called for permanent stewards in Formula One after the governing FIA dropped former racer Johnny Herbert on Wednesday, arguing his work as a media pundit was incompatible with the role.

Brown, whose team won the constructors' title last season, told the Autosport Business Exchange conference in London that McLaren would happily pay their share of the cost of professional officials.

Stewards are largely unpaid volunteers, other than travel expenses, appointed by the FIA on race-by-race basis to ensure the rules are applied consistently and fairly during race weekends and handing out punishments as necessary.

"I don't think we're set up for success by not having full-time stewards," said Brown.

"As far as paying for stewards, this will probably be unpopular amongst my fellow teams (but) I'm happy if McLaren and all the racing teams contribute. I think it's so important for the sport.

"It can't be that expensive. If everyone contributes it's not going to break the bank."

Herbert, a three-times race winner from 160 starts who competed for an array of F1 teams in the 1980s and 1990s and won the Le Mans 24 Hours, had been scheduled to officiate at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 16.

The 60-year-old former Sky Sports F1 pundit angered four-times world champion Max Verstappen and father Jos last season for media comments about the Red Bull driver's track behaviour, according to Reuters.

"It is with regret that we announce today that Johnny Herbert will no longer fulfil the position of F1 driver steward for the FIA," the governing body said in a statement.

"Johnny is widely respected and brought invaluable experience and expertise to his role. However, after discussion, it was mutually agreed that his duties as an FIA steward and that of a media pundit were incompatible.

"We thank him for his service and wish him well in his future endeavours."

There was no immediate comment from Herbert, one of the stewards in Mexico City last season who handed Verstappen two 10-second penalties for aggressive moves on his McLaren title rival Lando Norris.

"Those penalties in Mexico won’t stop Max Verstappen from pushing Lando Norris off the track in the future," the Briton commented afterwards, referring to the Dutch driver's driving style as "harsh".

"I am such a big fan of Verstappen and it frustrates me massively when he drives the way he did in Mexico," he added.

The Briton has continued to offer opinions, circulated in the media, for betting websites.