Italy regain winning ways but probably too late to rescue Euro dream
Barella is mobbed after scoring Italy’s opener just before half time. (Photo by UEFA)
REGGIO EMILIA, June 22, 2019 – Against all the odds Italy are teetering on the brink of elimination from the UEFA U21 EURO at the group stage.
The agonising uncertainty will last for the next two days and depend on the outcome of France’s meeting with Romania. A draw will confirm a tournament exit for the Azzurrini on the complex regulations which mean that only one second-placed team can progress to the semi-finals.
That is unlikely to be coach Luigi Di Biagio’s boys even though they defeated Belgium 3-1 while Spain took Group A top spot after, simultaneously, overcoming Poland 5-0.
Italy’s evening was already shaken before the match with the exclusion of Moise Kean from the starting line-ups for disciplinary reasons. The subsequent outcome owed everything to the crucial defeat by Poland three days earlier which wrecked Italy’s dreams of glory.
With all the pressures on their shoulders, Italy pushed to take the lead from the beginning. Nicolò Barella’s header after seven minutes grazed goalkeeper Ortwin De Wolf’ right-hand post. Belgium replied on the transition with Dodi Lukebakio forcing a fine save from Alex Meret.
This was the only threat to the Italian defence in the first half. Di Biagio’s team stepped up the intensity of their attacks but without accuracy in front of goal.
Federico Chiesa, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Gianluca Mancini all went close before Barella pulled a rabbit out the just before the end of the first half. De Wolf saved his right-shot from the right side of the box but could do nothing to save the Cagliari midfielder’s second attempt with a stunning left-foot shot.
The bad news from Bologna, that Spain were leading Poland 3-0 at half-time forced the Italians to maintain the attack to improve their goal difference which may eventually be crucial in the computations of the second-placed teams’ ranking.
As a result, the Azzurrini secured a second goal at in the 53rd minute thanks to Patrick Cutrone who converted Pellegrini’s right-wing cross with a perfect header.
Italy kept pushing for most of the second half and only some brilliant
saves from De Wolf from Rolando Mandragora and Manuel Locatelli saved
Belgium from a heavier defeat.
Johan Walem’s team finally reacted in the final stages when Yari Verschaeren pulled back one goal with a splendid, curling right-foot shot.
Italy recovered from that setback in the last minutes when Mancini’s header hit a post and Chiesa made it 3-1. It was victory but probably one laced with regret.
The agonising uncertainty will last for the next two days and depend on the outcome of France’s meeting with Romania. A draw will confirm a tournament exit for the Azzurrini on the complex regulations which mean that only one second-placed team can progress to the semi-finals.
That is unlikely to be coach Luigi Di Biagio’s boys even though they defeated Belgium 3-1 while Spain took Group A top spot after, simultaneously, overcoming Poland 5-0.
Italy’s evening was already shaken before the match with the exclusion of Moise Kean from the starting line-ups for disciplinary reasons. The subsequent outcome owed everything to the crucial defeat by Poland three days earlier which wrecked Italy’s dreams of glory.
With all the pressures on their shoulders, Italy pushed to take the lead from the beginning. Nicolò Barella’s header after seven minutes grazed goalkeeper Ortwin De Wolf’ right-hand post. Belgium replied on the transition with Dodi Lukebakio forcing a fine save from Alex Meret.
This was the only threat to the Italian defence in the first half. Di Biagio’s team stepped up the intensity of their attacks but without accuracy in front of goal.
Federico Chiesa, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Gianluca Mancini all went close before Barella pulled a rabbit out the just before the end of the first half. De Wolf saved his right-shot from the right side of the box but could do nothing to save the Cagliari midfielder’s second attempt with a stunning left-foot shot.
The bad news from Bologna, that Spain were leading Poland 3-0 at half-time forced the Italians to maintain the attack to improve their goal difference which may eventually be crucial in the computations of the second-placed teams’ ranking.
As a result, the Azzurrini secured a second goal at in the 53rd minute thanks to Patrick Cutrone who converted Pellegrini’s right-wing cross with a perfect header.
Italy kept pushing for most of the second half and only some brilliant
saves from De Wolf from Rolando Mandragora and Manuel Locatelli saved
Belgium from a heavier defeat.
Johan Walem’s team finally reacted in the final stages when Yari Verschaeren pulled back one goal with a splendid, curling right-foot shot.
Italy recovered from that setback in the last minutes when Mancini’s header hit a post and Chiesa made it 3-1. It was victory but probably one laced with regret.
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