Frattesi and Chiesa knock out Netherlands: Mancini glimpses Italy of the future

Italy beat the Netherlands 3-2 in the third-fourth place final of the Nations League

Italy finished third in the 2023 Nations League: the Azzurri beat the Netherlands in the consolation final with a 3-2 result at the De Grolsch Veste Stadium in Enschede.

Positive signs from Roberto Mancini’s Azzurri after the disappointment in the semifinal against Spain: back to the 4-3-3, the national team started strongly and found two goals that immediately steered the challenge. In the 7th minute Dimarco served by a backheel from Raspadori scores the 1-0 with a nice left-footed shot, in the 20th minute comes the doubling by Frattesi, who solves a scrum in the area after an initial attempt by Gnonto. There was little reaction from the Oranje, who were seen only by Gakpo.

In the second half, De Boer’s team picks up the pace and in the 69th minute halves the disadvantage with Bergwijn, triggered by Gakpo, but after just four minutes Italy makes it three with the newly entered Chiesa, who, launched by Dimarco, gets rid of Van Dijk and knocks Bijlow down with his left. In the final cancelled a goal by Weghorts, the Azzurri were tired and in the 90th minute conceded Wijnaldum’s goal that reopened the game on an assist from De Jong. Despite nine minutes of added time, the Netherlands could find no more Donnarumma’s goal: Italy third, flashes of future for Mancini and his Azzurri.