World qualifiers. Bulgaria remedies the advantage of Chiesa, then the blues hit the wall erected by the guests
BULGARIA1
ITALY (4-3-3): Donnarumma, Florenzi (18 ‘st Toloi) Bonucci, Acerbi, Emerson (46’ st Pellegrini), Barella (18 ‘st Cristante), Jorginho, Verratti; Church, Property (29 ‘st Raspadori), Insigne (29’ st Berardi). (1 Sirigu, 12 Gollini, 3 Chiellini, 23 Bastoni, 4 Biraghi, 22 Castrovilli, 20 Bernardeschi). All. Mancini.
BULGARIA (4-2-3-1): Georgiev, A. Hristov, P. Hristov, Antov, Nedyalkov, Vitanov (30 ‘st Malinov), Kostadinov, Yomov, Yankov (12’ st Chochev), Despodov (30 ‘st Kirilov ), Yomov (1 ‘st Delev), A.Iiev (24’ st Krastev), Despodov. All. Petrov.
REFEREE: Gozubuyuk (Ned)
NETWORKS: pt 16 ‘Chiesa, 39’A.Iliev
NOTE: Corners: 7-0 for Italy. Bookings: Barella, Yomov, Toloi, Nedyalkov for foul play. Spectators: 14,366, collections € 181,308.
FLORENCE
The record arrives but not the victory. Italy stops at 1-1 against Bulgaria in the “first” as European champion: Atanas Iliev responded to the goal in the middle of the first half just before half-time in the only real opportunity for the national team. Petrov.
The reaction of the blues vehement was worth nothing, continuous but also imprecise in the second half as nothing produced by the entries of Berardi and Raspadori for Insigne and Immobile. Mancini is consoled by the lack of victory with the absolute record of consecutive useful games, 35, which previously had only been achieved by Spain (from 2007 to 2009) and Brazil (from 1993 to 1996). Waiting for the direct clash on Sunday in Basel, Italy confirms itself at the head of the group for the world qualifiers with 10 points, 4 points more than Switzerland which, however, has two fewer games played only two against the 4 of the Azzurri: how to say that going to Qatar will have to be fought. The Cup won on 11 July at Wembley welcomed the Azzurri in front of the monumental entrance to the Franchi stadium, 15,000 fans greeted them in the stands singing “Magic Nights”, great applause also for Vialli when he entered the field while on the maxi screen appeared the words Champions of Europe. Before the match, federal president Gravina handed Captain Bonucci the UEFA patch for the 100 blue appearances centered in March, then the emotion of the anthems and the minute of silence to commemorate Francesco Morini.
«We lacked to be a little more precise in the goal area – said coach Roberto Mancini -. We were a bit imprecise is one of those games where even if you still play 30 minutes you don’t score. They played their game. We’re fine, we just lacked a little precision. If we had won it would have been better, Sunday will be an important match, we have to win ».