Today, the rivals of Ukraine's national team in Group C played their first matches in the Euro 2024 qualifying cycle — Italy faced England, and North Macedonia — faced Malta.

Euro-2024. Qualifying tournament. Group C

Italy — England — 1:2 (0:2)

Goals: Retegee (56) — Rice (13), Kane (44, from the penalty).

Italy: Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Toloi, Acerbi, Spinazzola, Barella (Kristante, 62), Jorginho (Tonali, 69), Verratti (Scamacca, 88), Berardi (Politan, 62), Retegee, Pellegrini (Nyonto, 69).

England: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw, Phillips, Rice, Bellingham (Gallagher, 85) Saka (James, 85), Kane, Grealish (Foden, 69, Trippier, 81).

Warnings: Di Lorenzo (52), Jorginho (62), Acerbi (90+2) — Rice (29), Maguire (57), Walker (71), Shaw (78).

Red card: Shaw (80, second warning).

In the central match of the first round in Group C, for the hosts it was unfortunate when Declan Rice scored a goal after Harry Kane's shot at 13 minutes. And just one minute before halftime, the captain of the English team himself converted a penalty awarded to him by Giovanni Di Lorenzo in his own penalty area.

In the second half, Roberto Mancini's wards managed to narrow the gap. Matteo Retegee scored on 56 minutes after a beautiful combination play from "La Squadra Azzurra". However, despite Luke Shaw's red card at 80 minutes, Gareth Southgate's wards still maintained their lead — 2:1.

North Macedonia — Malta — 2:1 (0:0)

Goals: Elmas (66), Churlinov (72) — Yan Kam (86).

North Macedonia: Dimitrievsky, S. Ristovski, Velkovsky (Churlinov, 58), Musliu, Alioski (Ashkovsky, 78), Atanasov, Zaykov (Ristevsky, 90+2), Elmas, Bardy, Trykovsky (Nestorovsky, 58), Miovsky (M. Ristovski, 78).

Malta: Bonello, Apap, Borg, Attar, D. Mbong, Giomie, Kristensen (Yan Kam, 77), Kamenzuli (Corbollan, 77), Teuma (Piber, 84), Satariano (Jones, 84), P. Mbong (Dimek, 67).

Warnings: Bardy (45+3), Alioski (47), Miovsky (61), Atanasov (90+8) — Kristensen (45), Teuma (63), Borg (89), Attar (90+7).

Red card: Miovsky (90+3, for unsportsmanlike behavior).

The home team's overwhelming advantage throughout the match finally materialized into a goal on 66 minutes. Elif Elmas opened the scoring in the match. Six more minutes later, Darko Churlinov doubled Macedonia's lead.

To Malta's credit, they did not give up and managed to narrow the gap with Yan Kam's efforts. However, that was all they could do. 2:1 — victory for North Macedonia.

After the first round, England and North Macedonia each have three points, while Italy and Malta remain without any points in their tally. On March 26, in the next round, England will host Ukraine, and Malta — Italy.