But a moment for Michele Marcolini too. The Italian wanted Malta to make his countrymen work, and they did just that. That they lost by only two goals to the European champions is no small feat.
So, victory for Roberto Mancini and his men helps them put that defeat in Naples to the bed. They move joint-second alongside North Macedonia, having played a game more, and into prime position to push on for automatic qualification.
Two first-half goals are enough for Italy to get themselves off the mark in Euro 2024 qualification, as they seal a road victory against Malta to end their international break. The hosts played their part in a lively encounter that shows how far they have come, but it was a comfortable result for the Azzurri in the end. At full-time, it finishes Malta 0-2 Italy.
90' + 4' FULL-TIME: MALTA 0-2 ITALY
90' + 2' The Azzurri chase a final flourish, keeping Malta pinned deep. The hosts refuse to buckle again however, and come away with a pressure-easing free-kick.
90' There will be three added minutes in this one.
87' Malta try a route one approach and lump the long ball downfield. It almost catches Italy's defence out, only to race away to Donnarumma before any attackers can get close enough.
85' There's just five minutes left of regulation time in this game, before any seconds added at the end. It surely is a bridge too far to salvage an unlikely point for Malta, but can they still get a reward for their efforts?
J. Brown
F. Apap
83' Malta also make their fifth alteration, with Apap swapped out for Brown.
R. Tolói
G. Scalvini
83' Italy make their fifth change, as Toloi arrives to replace Scalvini.
82' Politano is the latest Italy man to let a chance go missing, with a grateful Bonello happy to seize on a simple enough ball in the end.
80' Now it is Malta who go close again, this time through Mbong. The midfielder sees his shot blocked by Emerson, who takes a sizable hit to his lower body in the process and earns collective sympathy from all of his team-mates.
78' Grifo with the miss! The substitute goes high and can't quite believe he's spurned that chance, shaking his head in frustration.
T. Teuma
N. Muscat
76' Nikolai Muscat is also off for the hosts, replaced by Teuma.
S. Dimech
J. Jones
76' Dimech arrives as Malta's third change, with Jones the man to make way.
75' Italy continue to generate strong hold-up play around the middle of the park, as Malta prepare further changes to their side.
73' Long balls from both sides seek to gain some territory before Italy return to playing it around their back four in midfield. Malta are starting to flag now, their energy taking a noticeable dip.
71' This scoreline is an apt reflection of Italy's general superiority, but it would be unfair to suggest Malta have been wildly outclassed. They conceded softly twice, but elsewhere, they have gone toe-to-toe with the champions of Europe.
69' Scamacca goes for the spectacular now, with an overhead kick. He's on target too, and Bonello does well to palm it away. As Malta chase something to keep this game alive, so too do Italy seek a definitive blow.
68' Close for Guillaumier! A wayward Muscat header is almost diverted in at the far post by the Malta man, as the hosts push for something in this game. They are determined to take something from this if possible.
M. Verratti
S. Tonali
67' The Azzurri's fourth swap sees Tonali bow out for Verratti.
G. Scamacca
M. Retegui
66' Italy now make further changes themselves, with Retegui replaced by Scamacca.
K. Nwoko
A. Satariano
64' The hosts make a second swap, replacing Satariano with Nwoko.
Z. Muscat
C. Attard
64' Malta make their first change, bringing on Zach Muscat in place of Attard.
62' Malta look poised to make their first substitutions of the game in the coming minutes.
60' The visitors earn a corner as Yankam deflects the ball away from another shrewd attack. Mancini gesticulates wildly at his players, as the set-piece yields no further goal for Italy.
58' Italy go straight down the other end, and Cristante launches a powerful effort. Goalkeeper Bonello gets across for the blocked save and mops up the lingering danger.
57' Pandemonium around the Italy box! A Malta corner now plays havoc and players from both sides try to desperately either poke it home or clear it away. Donnarumma eventually snaffles it.
G. Scalvini
Yellow Card
54' Scalvini goes into the book for a testy foul now. It gives Malta a free-kick opportunity, though they are unable to keep it down.
52' Retegui is unable to add a second to his personal tally as he plants the set-piece header over the bar now.
50' Grigo lofts a ball into the Italy box but cannot find Retegui. The visitors will have a corner for their work though.
48' The hosts have still got a spark about them, but they will face a very tough road to find two goals and restrict Italy to no more here. The visitors are looking lively still.
M. Darmian
G. Di Lorenzo
46' The visitors make their second change, with Darmian on for Di Lorenzo.
46' We are back underway for the second half in Malta. Will Italy add more to their lead or can the hosts stem the tide?
It is three shots to eight in favour of Italy at the end of that half. Malta have been good value for their perceived quality, though it would take something truly special to salvage a result from here.
Mateo Retegui's latest finish and a Matthew Guillaumier own goal means Italy are two to the good against Malta, in a Euro 2024 qualifier where the latter have shown glimpses among their stubborn resolve. This game is surely headed only one way from here though. At half-time, it is Malta 0-2 Italy.
45' + 3' HALF-TIME: MALTA 0-2 ITALY
45' + 1' We're into the first of three added minutes in Malta.
44' There's likely to be a few added minutes in this one, given the pauses in play to deal with Gnonto's injury. The forward will be sweating on his fitness ahead of the Premier League run-in.
42' Italy have managed over a hundred more passes than their hosts so far, with 247 against 144 heading into the final minutes of the half. Their approach looks to be paying dividends in halting those earlier counter-moves.
40' Grifo spins the cross in to Di Lorenzo now and the Italy defender sees his shot blocked. The visitors are seeking a third before the interval rolls around.
38' With a win for England earlier this weekend, Italy will be all too aware that dropped points at this stage of qualifying could prove a serious headache. On the sidelines, Mancini is still urging them to turn the screw, even at two goals up.
G. Di Lorenzo
Yellow Card
36' Di Lorenzo picks up a booking after he commits a foul on Yankam to cut down a potential Malta breakaway.
34' Malta's fans are finding their voice again, just after Retegui puts an effort off target. The hosts try to play out from the back, but Italy are exerting a stronger man-management operation now.
32' We've had seven shots for Italy to Malta's two so far. Both of the hosts' efforts were on target however. Donnarumma's early work has been key to Italy building this comfortable advantage.
30' Grifo wants a penalty after he goes down following a saved shot, but the referee is having none of it from the Italian substitute, deeming Malta's defence won the ball cleanly from under his nose.
29' Two goals inside the opening half-hour, and Italy can look to settle into cruise control. It was never going to have to be a vintage performance to get the job done, but Malta will be frustrated.
S. Tonali
Assist
27' Assist Sandro Tonali
M. Guillaumier
Own Goal
27' GOAL! ITALY HAVE THEIR SECOND! 2-0! It's a Guillaumier own goal this time, the Malta man turning the ball past his own keeper after Emerson flicks a low return cross back into the six-yard area. That might be game over already.
26' Satariano is called upon for a defensive intervention after Italy tip a free-kick into the box. The subsequent Azzurri corner is seen off at the far post.
24' The early exit for Gnonto is going to change the rhythms of this game, and Malta press to exploit the early turmoil for Italy. The visitors keep composed around their own box though and see them off.
V. Grifo
W. Gnonto
22' Italy make their first change, with Gnonto replaced by Grifo.
21' Look away, Leeds fans. Gnonto is continuing to have problems, and the forward has now hobbled to the sidelines, straining with his ankle. His game looks like it might be over.
19' A half-chance for Italy is scuffed around the box before Malta clear their lines. The visitors want a second as soon as possible to put this tie to bed.
17' That goal has quietened down the National Stadium, and it is a cruel blow for Malta. They have had chances themselves to seize a shock advantage so far. Now, they have all the work to do.
S. Tonali
Assist
15' Tonali is the man who nabs the assist, and the delivery in is pinpoint. Italy have a lead that will settle matters after a first quarter-hour where they have looked the less energetic of the two sides.
M. Retegui
Goal
15' GOAL! ITALY SEIZE THE LEAD! 1-0! A sucker-punch for Malta, as with their first real attack of the game, the visitors open them up from a corner. Retegui makes it two in as many games with a simple header.
13' Italy look to play it out from the back now, seeking to build pressure with a wide approach down the flanks. Gnonto looks to be labouring after a wayward arm caught him in the neck earlier on.
11' The home crowd are in fine voice for this encounter, and no wonder. It is not every day the European champions come to town, after all.
9' Guillaumier snaps a free-kick off Tonali after the Malta man wins a foul from the latter's challenge. They are definitely up for this one so far.
7' Di Lorenzo triggers the offisde flag as Italy look to pour forward and impose themselves in this game. Their hosts are proven more stubborn than they may have expected early on.
5' Satariano! A long-ball counter tears Italy's defence open down the middle and the Malta forward nearly nabs a shock opener. Donnarumma parries and then cleans up the subsequent corner.
3' There's an early stoppage for a potential head knock here, with Yankam requiring some treatment after a heavy-footed challenge of his own sees him suffer some blowback.
1' We are underway in this Euro 2024 qualifier between Malta and Italy!
The national anthems have concluded and we are moments away from kick-off.
This is the ninth meeting between these two nations, and their first since September 2015, when the pair met on the path to Euro 2016. Unsurprisingly, Italy have an 8-0 record. Do Malta have any hope of bucking the trend?
Malta, meanwhile, introduce Yannick Yankam and Nikolai Muscat into their starting line-up, with the former rewarded for his goal in defeat to North Macedonia.
As befitting a theoretically weaker opponent, there's changes afoot for Italy. Gianluigi Donnarumma wears the captain's armband on the road, and Leeds United's Wilfried Gnonto starts up front.
Substitutes: Davide Frattesi, Marco Verratti, Marco Carnesecchi, Domenico Berardi, Matteo Darmian, Vincenzo Grifo, Jorginho, Gianluca Scamacca, Alex Meret, Francesco Acerbi, Leonardo Spinazzola, Rafael Toloi.
ITALY (4-3-3):Gianluigi Donnarumma, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Giorgio Scalvini, Alessio Romagnoli, Emerson; Matteo Pessina, Bryan Cristante, Sandro Tonali; Matteo Politano, Mateo Retegui, Wilfried Gnonto.
Substitutes: Paul Mbong, James Brown, Cain Formosa, Teddy Teuma, Zach Muscat, Ryan Camenzuli, Kyrian Nwoko, Karl Micallef, Brandon Paiber, Matthew Grech, Bjorn Kristensen, Shaun Dimech.
MALTA (3-5-2): Henry Bonello; Ferdinando Apap, Steve Borg, Cain Attard; Joseph Mbong, Yannick Yankam, Matthew Guillaumier, Nikolai Muscat, Juan Corbalan; Alexander Satariano, Jodi Jones.
Roberto Mancini's men will surely fancy their prospects on the road against the minnows of their qualification group, a side who have never made a major tournament. But Michele Marcolini, a two-time Serie B winner in his playing days, will hope to see his side put up a good fight against his countrymen, after an opening loss of their own to North Macedonia.
After an opening defeat in Naples to England, in the latest chapter of a modern-day rivalry, the Azzurri are looking to get off the mark on the path to Germany.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the 2024 European Championship qualifiers, as Italy look to open their account with a trip to face Malta in a Group C encounter at Ta' Qali National Stadium!
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