Nicolato’s Italy in Maribor drops the poker against the hosts of Slovenia and qualifies thanks to tonight’s 4-0 in the quarter-finals of the Under 21 European Championships with 5 points behind Spain at 7 who overcame 2-0 the Czech Republic. The Final eight for the title will be held from 31 May to 6 June. The only negative note is the umpteenth expulsion of a player: it is still up to Marchizza, who entered the second half, to suffer the red card for a double yellow card, which appeared a bit fiscal.
The protagonist of the challenge was however Patrick Cutrone, author of a brace and a wrong penalty, as well as Maggiore and Raspadori, authors of the other two goals. No surprise of forward formation for the coach Nicolato, with Cutrone in attack together with Raspadori, with Scamacca disqualified. Without Tonali and Rovella, the idea of Pobega in directing is also confirmed. The choices on the flanks were less announced, with Bellanova on the right and Sala on the left instead of Zappa and Frabotta, as was Ranieri in the three defense instead of Marchizza. Italy immediately ahead already at 10 ‘: initiative on the left of Maggiore that wedges itself in the Slovenian area, discharges behind for Cutrone early. But the ball arrives outside the area on Pobega’s feet, who commits Vekic to the parade, then Karic clears the disengagement that ends again on the feet of Maggiore who bags from the left diagonally. The azzurrini sink and pass again in the 19th minute: Ranieri’s deep pass for Raspadori, who flies on the edge of the offside and bags the 2-0 goal by beating Vekic again at the near post.
Slovenia fails to react and on 25 ‘comes the trio: Frattesi receives in the area from Cutrone, Zaletel knocks him down and the Polish referee Frankowvski whistles the penalty. Cutrone shows up on the spot, shooting hard on the right and signing the 3-0. At the end of the time another opportunity for the blue: Raspadori in the area finds Cutrone who tries to dribble Vekic but is knocked down. Still a penalty but this time Cutrone crosses from the spot, but Vekic gets there.
The attacker’s poker comes at the beginning of the second half: in the 50th minute the Azzurri quickly beat the free-kick and find the defense of Slovenia unprepared, with Cutrone that from outside the area fires a great precise and powerful blow at the corner of the posts for the 4- 0 which redeems the wrong penalty and effectively closes the challenge. 83 ‘still an expulsion for the blue who did not close a game of this mini group in 11 men. The referee expels Marchizza, who has been in for half an hour, for a foul that did not seem like a yellow card, in the end also Frabotta who was cautioned and will miss the next match.
Nicolato: “A great pride, we were keen on these quarter-finals”
«I extend my congratulations to a staff who have worked very hard in these two years, with 60 players that we have employed in a very difficult period, as well as a great record with 9 wins, 3 draws and one defeat, we are very proud. We were keen on these quarter-finals because we have always come out of difficulties, it’s a great pride ». This was said by the coach of the Under 21 national team Paolo Nicolato after the 4-0 victory over Slovenia and qualification for the quarter-finals of the European Championships. «The expulsion of Marchizza? I do not want to talk about it, I have already said everything I had to say and I remain of that idea even for the expulsion of this evening. I’m sorry for the boy, obviously this was the yardstick and we weren’t able to understand », added the coach to Rai. «Today setting up a team was very difficult, with the squad reduced to the bone and it was not easy to face this match with so much pressure. Now we are happy to have reached the quarters, it was not taken for granted », concluded Nicolato.