Around the stadium, however, nobody wearing blue seemed interested in the mathematics anymore.
The San Siro had become a celebration, something akin to a carnival even.
Scarves spun overhead as flags waved endlessly.
Songs refused to die, and even as the Italian players jogged back toward their own half, the voices of their crowd followed louder than before the goal had even been scored.
The referee glanced around, checked both assistants and finally blew for the restart.
The whistle disappeared beneath the noise as Ukraine restarted anyway.
And immediately they abandoned caution.
The ball moved quickly as the yellow shirts flooded forward in numbers, throwing men beyond the ball as though the score were level rather than beyond reach.
"They're committing everybody now," the co-commentator observed.
"This is desperation football, and despite the situation, I don't think it's called for."
"They have to," came the reply.
