After the draw with the Czech Republic at the debut, Italy Under 21 concedes an encore and wins a point also against Spain. In Maribor the azzurrini, in a widely reworked formation – between turnover and disqualifications – draw 0-0, but risk big in the final, after being left in nine (Scamacca and Rovella expelled) and are kept afloat by the goalkeeper Carnesecchi, who saves the result. The Italian extreme defender, just before the 90 ‘, first rejects a Pipa shot in a dive, then turns into an acrobat on Puado’s rebound, lifting the ball for a corner. A double save that is worth a goal and allows Italy Under 21 to still aspire to qualify for the final phase. It will be enough to beat Slovenia – which is certainly not Spain – to move forward in the continental tournament.
The azzurrini, after having risked winning the entire stakes in the half hour of the first half, with a great conclusion by Pobega touched by the Spanish goalkeeper who sent the ball to print on the crossbar, in the final game they complicated the life, with a nervous attitude that was however excessively severely punished by the referee. Scamacca and Rovella paid the price, ending up prematurely in the locker room. A double absence for the last game, which is added to the heavy one of Tonali, already stopped for three rounds.
Spain, with their enveloping game, tried to gain ground and close Italy in their own half. The match, far from exciting, had as its dominant theme the ball possession of the young ‘Red Furies’ who, with the passing of the minutes, became soporific in the humid evening in Maribor. At 20 ‘conclusion of Miranda from distance, the ball ends up just above the intersection. Italy responds with a strong shot from Pobega that touches the post. At 30 ‘great blow by Frattesi, touched by the Spanish goalkeeper, the ball stamps the crossbar and then ends up in the corner. It is the occasion. clearer than the first half.
In the second half still possession of Spain: Garcia goes to the shot in the 13th minute, but Carnesecchi reaches out and blocks. Spain tries again in the 18 ‘with the new player Moncayola, but the ball comes out very little. The poison is in the queue, with the three expelled (two for Italy and one for the Spaniards), but above all the double miracle of Carnesecchi, who fixes the result.