Nothing to do, especially in the second half, when Italy suffered more, and was saved by the Var twice (Arnautovic’s header canceled for offside and a possible penalty for Pessina’s foul on Lainer also not granted for ofside), the Austrians have always managed to close the spaces becoming gradually more and more threatening.
Physically very strong, and more determined than the Azzurri, Foda’s men sent our game controllers (Verratti and Jorginho) into a tailspin, preventing us from filtering balls for Immobile and Insigne. For the first time in this European Championship it is a slow Italy, not very synchronized, often imprecise in the passages and in the conclusions. The most uneasy is Verratti, much less brilliant than the meeting with Wales. Even Berardi, often neutralized by Alba, is off the radar. Despite these difficulties, Italy could take the lead twice in the first half. First with a shot by Barella, served by Spinazzola, deflected in extremis by Bachmann with one foot. Then in the half hour with a powerful right-footed shot from Immobile that hits the post with the goalkeeper beaten. If we had unlocked, the game would probably have taken a different turn. But we have never had the passion for the game. The only one up to the previous performances was Spinazzola, very proactive in the first half, and always punctual in closing times when we are backward.
The situation worsened in the second half. Apart from the header canceled (64 ‘) to Arnautovic (a bull who never gave us respite), Austria gains meter by meter by putting us in the corner. At this point Mancini intervenes by making the first changes. Locatelli enters in place of Verratti. While Pessina takes over Barella, less and less lucid and harassed by the Austrian defenders.
But Austria does not give up an inch. He runs, presses, doubles, feels the prey is in his sights. Especially in attack we are not very concrete. Insigne is also not in the day. It does not conclude when it must conclude. Or he persists with those rounds that, when they are so telephoned, are taken for granted. In short, we see the witches. Luckily Mancini intervenes again by inserting Chiesa for Berardi and Belotti in place of Immobile, now he too with fruit. Between one change and another, almost like a sense of liberation, the second half also ends.
We go to extra time. And it goes with not encouraging feelings. The Austrians, all concentrated, look like the All Blacks when they do the Haka. They are still very fresh, ready to return to the field. The Azzurri, despite having made 4 changes, seem less reactive. They look into space. They do not speak. Mancini himself, tense and worried, hardly intervenes. The only one who says something is Chiellini, but nothing enthralling. Let’s say that you don’t feel that atmosphere of “let’s join together in cohort” that usually precedes battles.