A look at the semifinal matches in the World Cup playoffs in Europe on Thursday:
ITALY vs. NORTH MACEDONIA
Italy will have a makeshift defense as it attempts to banish the ghosts of its playoff defeat to Sweden in 2017.
FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Zlatan Ibrahimovic became the oldest player to score multiple goals in a Serie A game, but his brace still wasn't enough for AC Milan to win on Saturday.
Despite the Sweden star's two goals at the age of 40 years and 48 days, the Rossoneri slumped to their first loss of the season with a 4-3 defeat at Fiorentina.
MILAN (AP) — Substitute Juan Cuadrado’s stoppage-time goal gave Juventus a 1-0 victory against 10-man Fiorentina and ended a three-game winless streak in Serie A on Saturday.
Although it was barely deserved as Juve’s struggles continued.
TURIN, Italy (AP) — European champion Italy bounced back from its first loss in more than three years to beat Belgium 2-1 in the Nations League's third-place match on Sunday.
Nicolò Barella opened the scoring at the start of the second half and Domenico Berardi doubled Italy’s lead from the spot in the 65th minute.
MILAN (AP) — Spain ended Italy's record unbeaten run of 37 matches by beating the European champion 2-1 Wednesday in the Nations League semifinals after Roberto Mancini's team was reduced to 10 men.
MILAN (AP) — Paulo Dybala left the field in tears shortly after scoring to set Juventus on the way to a 3-2 victory over Sampdoria in Serie A on Sunday.
Dybala has endured a number of muscular injuries over the years and it appeared as if he had suffered another one after pulling up suddenly.
MUNICH (AP) — Belgium’s leading scorer at the European Championship is no stranger to Italy’s veteran defenders.
They all play in Serie A.
Romelu Lukaku will likely be the main attacking threat when Belgium takes on Italy in Munich on Friday in the Euro 2020 quarterfinals.
ROME (AP) — Somehow it seems appropriate that Italy, the first country in Europe that was overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic, is hosting the opening game of the European Championship.
ROME (AP) — In three years, Italy has gone from failing to qualify for the World Cup to a perfect qualifying campaign for the European Championship.
It’s a transformation that came sooner than expected under coach Roberto Mancini, who has found the right mix of younger players and veterans to create optimism around a team that had lost all of its confidence.
MILAN (AP) — Juventus’ fall from grace was starkly highlighted last weekend as bitter rival Inter Milan wrested the Serie A title from its grip while the Bianconeri struggled to beat lowly Udinese....
ROME (AP) — Antonio Conte is a master at winning ugly.
He did it as a defensive, over-achieving midfielder at Juventus who was able to take advantage of opponents’ weaknesses...
TURIN, Italy (AP) — Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday after returning from international duty with Italy...
ROME (AP) — Even on a night when Juventus was outplayed for long stretches, the nine-time defending Serie A champion managed to salvage a point in a 2-2 draw at Roma on Sunday.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice, including a second-half equalizer with a towering header after Juventus had been reduced to 10 men, while Jordan Veretout had a brace for Roma.