Nations League, Azzurre defeated by Denmark
Italy-Denmark 1-3
The streak of consecutive useful results of the National Women’s team stops at eight, beaten 3-1 by Denmark in the second match of the Nations League group. Under the downpour of the ‘Picco’ of La Spezia, in front of 1670 spectators, the Azzurre paid for the greater physicality of the Scandinavians, who appeared at ease on a field that became increasingly heavy as the minutes passed. In the first half the crossbars of Giugliano and Vansgaard, in the resumption after Faerge's 1-0 came Cambiaghi's almost immediate equalizer, which was then thwarted by Holmgaard's pearl and Thomsen's seal in the dying minutes.
A knockout, which came after the victory in the opener with Wales, that does not affect the path of Italy, ready to start again in just over a month from the mission in Scandinavian land: Friday, April 4 in Solna the match with Sweden, Tuesday, April 8 in Herning the second act with the Danes. “Sorry for the girls – said the coach after the final whistle – there's great regret because they did a great performance with a selection of the highest level. They were forced to chase us for most of the match, and for that I congratulate the team. Their quality made the difference, but for more than 75/80 minutes we played the game we wanted. Tonight are much more positive notes than negative ones”.
THE MATCH. There are five new players compared to the lineup that took the field in the debut with Belgium. In place of the Cantore-Girelli tandem, in attack Soncin launches the trident formed by Cambiaghi, Beccari and Giacinti, while on the sides – as happened in December in the historic first home win over Germany – Bergamaschi and Boattin are seen again from 1’. The defensive block does not change and in front of Giuliani there is room for Di Gugliemo, Lenzini and captain Linari. Also confirmed in midfield are Giugliano and Caruso, called to give rhythm, geometry and unpredictability to the maneuver. È a 3-4-3 also the one chosen by the coach of Denmark, who this time in the offensive trio, next to Harder and Thomsen, deploys Juventus’ Vangsgaard and not the ‘merengues’ Bruun.
The’start of the match è crackling. After not even a minute, Lenzini misses a disengagement allowing Harder to sprint towards Giuliani, but è the same HCL defender to stop the Bayern star with hard but regular intervention. Two minutes later, the Azzurre appeared on the opponent’s three-quarter, releasing to the shot from the edge of the area Giugliano, who from her square lets off a brushstroke miraculously deflected on the crossbar by Ostergaard, then pierced by Giacinti’s tap in, stopped forò for irregular position. From the quarter of an hour the rain turned into a deluge and the maneuvering of the teams was affected, although at the 23’ Vangsgaard had on her head the resounding chance for the lead, but the striker’s shot – all alone a few meters from the goal – was printed on the crossbar.
If the first half slips away without giving any further thrills, the resumption opens with Cantore replacing Beccari and Italy projected forward. The winning breakthrough forò è by the Danish brand, with Faerge, Fiorentina defender, who from the edge of the area mocks Giuliani with a parabola that slips under the seven. But the Italian reaction è vehement and immediate: at 58’ with a delightful left-footed shot Boattin finds Cambiaghi in the center of the area, who with a precise twisting header makes it 1-1 realizing his fifth center in the National team.
In the 70’ applaudable number by Caruso, who clears into the box with a delightful tunnel, followed by a looping conclusion that is deflected by Ostergaard. Three minutes later the cover was taken instead by Everton defender Holmgaard, who was very good at getting past Di Guglielmo with a sombrero and piercing the Rossoneri goalkeeper with a comfortable low shot. At 10’ from the end, the newcomer Piemonte does not arrive by a whisker on the beautiful cross from the bottom of Cantore, Italy from the l’ forward is unbalanced in search of the equaliser lending for’ the side to the eleven of Jeglertz, which takes advantage of the situation by making the final 3-1 with Thomsen, imbued to perfection by Harder.
