The Azzurri return to victory at the expense of Belgium and are third
belgium 1
ITALY (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Acerbi, Bastoni, Emerson Palmieri; Barella (25 ‘st Cristante), Locatelli, Pellegrini (25’ st Jorginho); Berardi (46 ‘st Insigne), Raspadori (20’ st Kean), Chiesa (46 ‘st Bernardeschi) (Sirigu, Meret, Chiellini, Verratti, Dimarco). Ct .: Mancini.
BELGIUM (3-4-3): Courtois; Alderweireld, Denayer, Vertonghen; Saelemaekers (14 ‘st De Ketelaere), Witsel, Tielemans (14’ st De Bruyne), Castagne; Vanaken Batshuayi, Carrasco (42’st Trossard) (Mignolet, Casteels, Boyata, Lukebakio, Theate, Dendoncker). Ct: Martinez.
REFEREE: Jovanovic (Serbia).
NETWORKS: in st 2 ‘Barella, 20’ rig. Berardi, 41 ‘De Ketelaere.
NOTE: corners: 6-5 for Italy. Stoppage time: 1 ‘and 4’. Bookings: Vertonghen, Di Lorenzo, Witsel, Alderweireld, Emerson.
TORINO
Italy restarts with a victory. Wednesday’s defeat with Spain had interrupted the record series of 37 useful results, the 2-1 with Belgium offers positive signs for the result, for the FIFA ranking and above all for the game. In short, something more than the third place in the Nations League that the success at the Stadium assigns to the Azzurri. Against Belgium, in the “final” played in Turin, the goals of Barella and Berardi (from a penalty) are decisive, De Ketelaere’s goal in the 86th minute for the 2-1 is useless, an exact photocopy of the European Championship result. Belgium complains for three posts, but the result is right and – after counting the absences and waivers – says that Italy knows how to stay at the level of the best in Europe.
Mancini opts for five changes compared to the semifinal lost against Spain: there is no suspended Bonucci, Jorginho and Verratti end up on the bench, the attack is revolutionized without Insigne and Bernardeschi. With Bastoni, Acerbi is paired, Pellegrini and Locatelli play in the median together with Barella, in front of the coach launches Raspadori in the trident with Berardi and Chiesa. The most important news concerns the captain’s armband that ends up on Donnarumma’s arm, who becomes the youngest player to fill the role since 1965 and, after the whistles of San Siro, he receives chants and applause at the Stadium. Belgium is without Lukaku and Hazard, who have returned home due to physical ailments, and Martinez places the weight of the attack on Batshuayi’s shoulders. The AC Milan player Saelemaekers and the former Atalanta Castagne also start, with Courtois confirmed among the posts. On the stands of the Juventus home is Aleksander Ceferin, the president of UEFA who is fighting the bianconeri in the Superlega project.
The Red Devils do not seem convinced and brilliant as against France, the Azzurri immediately try to take advantage of it and start better. At the first real lunge, Belgium is close to scoring: it is 25 ‘, the action develops on the right and leads to the shot Saelemaekers, his conclusion is rejected by the intersection of the posts. It is the only risk that the Azzurri run, then the pace slows down and the two teams are unable to become dangerous. Until the stroke of 45 ‘, when Chiesa has the most important goal: Berardi sends his teammate into the goal with a perfect throw, the Juve striker slams into Courtois.
The second half begins as the first half ended, but this time Italy passes. On a corner action, the ball ends up on Barella’s right, who is very good at coordinating and on the fly beats the Belgian goalkeeper for 1-0 after just 60 seconds. Martinez tries to shake his team by inserting De Bruyne and De Ketelaere, the Bruges player immediately enters the game serving Batshuayi: great blow by the attacker, the crossbar saves Donnarumma again. The fear does not frighten the Azzurri, 5 ‘after Mancini’s team find the doubling. Chiesa points to Castagne and the former Atalanta spreads him out in the penalty area, Berardi shows up on the spot and scores the 2-0 with a thrill, since Courtois senses and touches the ball but without being able to avoid the net. Donnarumma raises the shutter on Alderweireld twice, on the right around Carrasco thanks again for the third time the post, four from the end he is mocked by De Ketelaere who overtakes him under the legs. The Azzurri resist the latest attacks from Belgium, Mancini beats Martinez and places himself on the lowest step of the Nations League podium.