Azzurrini immediately out of the final phase of the Under 21 European Championships. Nicolato’s Italy Under 21 yields to a beautiful Portugal who in the first half of the match played tonight at the Stadion Stožice in Ljubljana in Slovenia is scary going easily 2-0. Then the azzurrini recover and recover until the 3-3 at the last minute of regular time signed by Cutrone. In extra time the red from Lovato gave the legs to Italy who capitulated with Portuguese goals from Jota and Francisco Conceição. It ends 5-3 for the Lusitanians who go to the semifinals to challenge the ‘cousins’ of Spain. Nicolato confirms the 3-5-2, on the outside midfield space at the speed of Bellanova and Sala, while in attack only the bench for Cutrone to whom Giacomo Raspadori is preferred, to team up with Scamacca. Surprisingly, in Portugal only bench for Rafael Leão, forward the Lusitanians aim at Gonçalo Ramos and the Monza forward Dany Mota.
The other AC Milan player Dalot, on the other hand, will start from the first minute on the defensive right out. Portugal immediately masters the game and has the advantage on action from a corner kick: corner on the near post that is deflected by Pobega, a bell tower rises on the edge of the small area where the Monza forward Dany Mota with a beautiful acrobatic overhead cold the blue goalkeeper. Italy accuses the blow and fails to come out: the only acute to be recorded is that of Pobega: the La Spezia midfielder, always very dangerous in the offensive phase, throws a large diagonal left from outside the area that ends just a little to the side. Portugal continues to attack with vehemence and the 2-0 arrives again on a corner: very long cross at the far post for Daniel Bragança who all alone manages to make the header for Dany Mota at the edge of the small area, oriented control and very powerful right foot of the number 11 that slips under the crossbar.
Immediately the double disadvantage Nicolato’s boys react and at the end of the first half they halve the disadvantage by reopening the match: Italy also realizes on the developments of a corner, Frattesi anticipates everyone at the near post and touches his head, the ball arrives on the feet of Pobega who, from a few steps away, manages to control and touch in some way on the net. The azzurrini restart strong, touching the equalizer: Frattesi one step away from 2-2 with a header under measure, a miracle of the Spanish goalkeeper Diogo Costa. When the draw seems in the arria, Portugal’s 3-1 arrives. Diogo Queirós dominates Lovato on the left side of the area, head bank on the near post where the Portuguese number 18 between three blues anticipates everyone and pushes the ball to the far post with the plate. On the brink of the abyss the blue reaction is immediate: here is the 3-2 signed by Scamacca.
Italy continues the boarding and the 3-3 arrives one minute from the end: Sottil who has just entered accelerates on the left and overtakes Dalot, a low ground cross on the near post where the other new entry Cutrone anticipates with the outside of his foot the Portuguese defender and bags at the near post. Shortly after Cutrone touches the 4-3 but his heel is rejected and it goes to extra time. Italy remains immediately in 10 men: Lovato jumps with his elbow high and hits Dany Mota in the face, double yellow card and fifth expulsion in 4 games for Italy. Red that will prove to be fatal for the azzurrini who eventually lose 5-3 due to goals from Jota and Francisco Conceição, the son of Sergio Conceicao, an old acquaintance of Italian football.