Winning helps future victories, but this time it also supports draws. The 5-2 thrashing of North Macedonia, in front of a 56,000-strong stadio Olimpico, has given the National team the possibility of two results out of three in order to qualify for Euro 2024 and defend their title. A win or a draw against Ukraine in Leverkusen on Monday will be enough.

In Rome, it was the ‘Chiesa show’ on his first appearance in the Spalletti era, who showed his class down the left-hand side, leaving the North Macedonian defenders in the wind. After Darmian's goal broke the deadlock, it was the Juventus player who let everyone forget Jorginho's missed penalty prior with two stunning strikes. It should've been game, set and match, but in the second half, North Macedonia proudly hit back with a brace from substitute Atanasov. But that scare was soon squashed with goals from Raspadori and then El Shaarawy sealing the result in the closing stages to send the Olimpico crowd away happy. Goals and enthusiasm are just what was in order for Monday's decisive qualification battle in Germany on Monday.

THE MATCH. Missing from the September and October squads, Jorginho and Chiesa made their debuts for Coach Spalletti, with the Arsenal man playing the playmaker role, supported by Barella and Bonaventura, and the Juventus man alongside Berardi and Raspadori in a front three. With Di Lorenzo suspended and Bastoni injured, the backline was made up of Darmian on the right, Dimarco on the left and Gatti alongside Acerbi. There were seven European champions lining up. Without Trajkovski, scorer in the Azzurri's World Cup playoff defeat in Palermo, North Macedonia lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation that became a 5-4-1 when out of possession, with Bardhi, Dimoski and Neapolitan, Elmas, behind Alioski.

It was one-way traffic in the opening 45 minutes of play, with Donnarumma a spectator. Italy had the ball in the back of the net after 13’: Jorginho played the ball through for Raspadori, who tucked it past an onrushing Dimitrievski, but the goal was ruled out for offside and it remained 0-0. But only for four minutes: Bonaventura launched Chiesa away, whose shot was put behind for a corner by Dimitrievski. A short corner by Dimarco to Raspadori saw the Napoli man find Darmian at the far post to nod home his second goal for the Azzurri eight years after his first against Azerbaijan. The home players hugged each other as the Olimpico's roof blew off. But Italy did not hold back and wanted more.

Jorginho, Barella and Bonaventura bossed the midfield, while Chiesa and Berardi, playing very wide and hugging the touchline, won their individual battles. Inspired, the Juventino came close to doubling the lead, before Dimarco, following his stunner in the league last weekend, shot over on the volley from Darmian's cross. On 38’, a penalty was awarded for Italy: Serafimov was deemed to have handled Gatti's header and German referee, Zwayer, indicated to the spot without hesitation. Up stepped Jorginho, who missed at the Olimpico two years ago in the decisive World Cup qualifier against Switzerland, but once again failed to send it home past Dimitrievski. But this time, it did not come back to haunt the home side. It fired Federico Chiesa up even more and in the space of four minutes, North Macedonia were well and truly on the back foot with two quick goals before the break: first, a cleanly struck right-footed drive from the edge of the box, from Barella's backheel set-up, and then a top-corner curler, Del Piero-esque, that took a slight deflection off Manev to loop into the goal. 3-0 and a round of applause for the Azzurri as they went into the changing rooms for a break.

It was Chiesa again in the thick of the action immediately after the restart, playing in Raspadori, whose shot was stopped at the near post by Dimitrievski. Then, from a corner, North Macedonia pulled an unexpected goal back through substitute Atanasov, who anticipated well to head past Donnarumma and give the Macedonians hope. The Azzurri still went looking for a fourth though and Bonaventura was unlucky to not score following a great reflex save by Dimitrievski. Spalletti took Chiesa, Jorginho and Bonaventura off, with one eye on the Ukraine game, replacing them with Zaniolo, Cristante and Frattesi. But it was the visitors, after 73’, who further reduced the deficit: a shot from distance by Atanasav deflected off Acerbi that wrong-footed Donnarumma and went in. A standing ovation for home boy Stephan El Shaarawy, coming on for Berardi, was given by the Olimpico crowd. There was further well-deserved recognition soon after for Giacomo Raspadori's night's work, who took advantage of Barella's second assist of the night with a lovely finish across goal into the far post to calm the home side's fears. Shortly after coming on, Scamacca sent his lob the wrong side of the post for 5-2, leaving El Shaarawy the honours, who in stoppage-time grabbed his seventh goal for the National team on his home ground. Olès and the unmissable ‘po-po-po-popo-po-po’ were sung around the Olimpico. Ukraine will be Italy's final test in Leverkusen on Monday, with a place at Euro 2024 at stake. Thanks to these three points, it has given Italy a slight advantage.

FIXTURES, RESULTS AND GROUP C TABLE

Italy 5-2 North Macedonia 
England 2-0 Malta
20 November: Ukraine vs. Italy
20 November: North Macedonia vs. England

*Standings: England 19 points (7), Italy and ukraine 13 (7), North Macedonia 7 (7), Malta 0 (8)