Goals from Berardi and Immobile in the first half bring Northern Ireland to their knees
PARMA. After just over four months, Italy returns to the field and immediately finds the victory (2-0) against an opponent who occupies only the 45th place of the Fifa ranking. Against a willing but modest Northern Ireland, the Azzurri opened the World Cup race in Qatar as best they could, launching a turning point. Roberto Mancini’s team, in addition to confirming the good results obtained in the qualifiers for the European Championship and in the Nations League, will have the obligation to cancel the infamous failure to participate in Russia 2018, with a qualification under full sail for the final phase of the tournament 2022.
Starting with 3 points in the pocket was the minimum goal of the Azzurri who already in the first half close the account with Northern Ireland, a national team that – speaking of sensational world exclusions – evokes the specters of the lack of qualification for the Rimet in 1958, in Sweden. However, doubts remain for a convincing performance only halfway: ok the score, minus the continuity. The Azzurri play only for a while and, in the second half, they feed more shadows than lights.
Mancini leaves Chiesa and Barella out, choosing to focus on Berardi’s imagination and the geometries of the pure mezzala Lorenzo Pellegrini. In midfield, as expected, Locatelli replaces Jorginho in the role of playmaker, supported by the Roma player on the right and the Parisian Verratti on the left. The beginning is of the Irish who leave something to be desired in terms of talent, but unleash a well-organized pressing; Italy is on stand-by, but it takes little to take measures against the opponents, who run a lot and achieve nothing. The profusion of effort-results ratio is really depressing for the guests: their breathtaking races are completely evanescent and Donnarumma is not taking any chances.
At 14 ‘Florenzi’s suggestion is precise, this time the ball reaches Berardi, who controls from the right and bags left under the crossbar. At 16 ‘Immobile still has the ball right between his feet, a few steps from the goal, but he is still hypnotized by the goalkeeper. It is a very concrete and lucid Italy, which takes very little to get to the parts of Peacock-Farrell. As evidenced by the goal of doubling, which arrives before the end of the first half: Ciro Immobile realizes it, living it as a kind of liberation.
In the second half Italy does not start very well: Locatelli creates anxiety in Donnarumma with an unfortunate back pass, but it is from the corner kicks that the Irish giants hope to invent something. Italy seems satisfied and has nothing left but the counterattack. It’s not a good game: long balls on one side, confused phrasing on the other. Only when he manages to put the maneuver in order, Italy becomes dangerous. And Donnarumma on 25 ‘must save his goal with a flick of the wrist. The dribble may be Italy’s most important weapon, but the Northern Irishmen limit the range of action to their opponents: in the final, the visiting team also manages to pack a delicious goal-ball with McNair. Italy lasts a while, but that’s enough.