Arsenal Oleksandr Zinchenko was visibly enraged on the touchline after Ukraine was denied a penalty in the last seconds of their crucial Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy on Monday.
Viaplay shared a video of Mykhaylo Mudryk collapsing inside the penalty area after a challenge from Bryan Cristante.
Oleksandr Zinchenko is enraged because Ukraine did not receive a penalty.
Ukraine will be able to qualify for Euro 2024 via the play-offs. However, Oleksandr Zinchenko plainly thought that in stoppage time against the current European champions, they should have had the opportunity to clinch their trip to Germany.Reported by skysport
Ukraine needed a win to leapfrog Italy and finish second to England in their qualification group. And, with the game scoreless, the home team must have felt they were about to be presented with a perfect opportunity.
Cristante clipped Mudryk inside the penalty area after the Chelsea winger passed the midfielder. Replays revealed that Cristante’s performance was awkward.
It was instantly clear what Zinchenko thought of the decision. The cameras on Viaplay cut to the Arsenal player who had been substituted early in the second half. And it was evident that he was perplexed by the decision not to impose a punishment.
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He was remonstrating with the officials, almost screaming for the decision to be reviewed. But no penalty was to be given.
The Arsenal star had every reason to be irritated by the decision.
It was scarcely surprising that Zinchenko was enraged. Mudryk was unquestionably snipped. And it’s unclear what the officials saw that didn’t warrant a penalty.
The £32 million Arsenal man would have also understood how important a penalty in that situation would have been for his country. It would not only have given them an automatic qualification spot, but it would have come at the expense of Italy, the current holders.
Zinchenko is an outstanding Ukrainian ambassador. And he’ll be heartbroken that they didn’t receive the desired result.
But you’d think it would only motivate the rest of the club as the playoffs approach.
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