Saturday, October 1️⃣4️⃣th, 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ ?? Italy ❹ ➖ ⓿ Malta ?? It was always expected to be a fairly comfortable evening for Italy in their Euro 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣ qualifying encounter with Malta, and so it proved as the hosts put up four goals in an impressive display. Malta offered little, but ultimately did well to keep the scoreline down to four as Domenico Berardi ?? bagged a brace for his side in the empathic victory at Stadio San Nicola. Italy moved into the Euro 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣ automatic qualifying spots after a 4️⃣➖0️⃣ victory over Malta at Stadio San Nicola on Saturday. Giacomo Bonaventura ?? put Luciano Spalletti’s ?? side ahead in the opening period with his first goal for his country at the age of 3️⃣4️⃣. Domenico Berardi ?? struck beautifully on the stroke of half-time to double the Italians' lead. Sassuolo's player struck again in the second half, just after the hour mark, for his second and Italy’s third with Davide Frattesi ?? adding a late fourth. The win moves Italy above Ukraine and into second place before they face Group C leaders England on Tuesday, with only three points separating the sides. There was little to split the two teams in the opening 2️⃣0️⃣ minutes, with both sides looking to attack but neither getting much joy in their respective attacking thirds. In a touching moment for Bonaventura ??, the midfielder picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and turned 1️⃣8️⃣0️⃣ degrees on the spot before he looped a shot over goalkeeper Henry Bonello ??. Just before the break, Berardi ?? played a scruffy one-two on the edge of the box with Nicolò Barella ?? and then looped the return pass into the far left corner to put Italy in firm control. At this point, Italy were in cruise control, and a third goal followed when Giacomo Raspadori’s ?? deflected cross trickled into the path of the arriving Berardi ?? who slammed the ball home with force for his second of the match. Frattesi ?? completed a good night's work for Italy with a fourth in injury time. This win means Italy are now just three points behind England in Group C with the pair set to face off at Wembley on Tuesday. The Azzurri briefly dropped out of the top two automatic qualification places after Ukraine’s victory over North Macedonia earlier in the day, but regained their position following a routine win over Malta. Even if Italy do turn up and get a result at Wembley, England’s goal difference is far superior so they will remain top going into the final two games. Gareth Southgate’s ??????? side boasts a ➕1️⃣4️⃣ goals difference while Italy, although they improved it against Malta, only have a ➕6️⃣. Everyone in the Italian team did their job - apart from maybe Gianluigi Donnarumma ?? who hardly got a feel of the ball - which makes it hard to pinpoint a single standout performance. But when a player scores a brace, especially in the way it was scored, they deserve a special mention. Berardi ?? took his goals superbly, planting the first one in the top corner from the edge of the box before powerfully slamming home the second, scoring with both of his shots. ⚽ ?? #ItalyMalta ?? | ?? #UEFAEuro2024Qualifiers | ?? #Germany2024 | ? #ForzaAzzurri | ?? #ForzaItalia