Silvio Baldini holds on to narrow victory in North Macedonia

“These are the most beautiful victories, when the difficulties increase: they are victories that make you mature, we needed these answers”: this is the analysis of the coach of the Under 21 Silvio Baldini at the end of the match.

“The boys are slowly becoming aware that when we are on the field, even with a man down, if we help each other the game can be brought home, energy should not be spared. They played like real men and at the end of the game they told me that it is better to win like this, with the man down. For a coach these are the best rewards. It’s been nine days that we’ve known each other, I’m so happy to have seen them assimilate the concepts so quickly, we have to continue like this. I am happy to be here: now I will have time to organize the work in a more focused way to help these guys.”

To decide the match, as mentioned, Luca Marianucci’s shot. “The goal was a pattern rehearsed during the week, on Ndour’s touch of the bank I made myself ready. It was important to close out the game even in the inferiority, we were strong mentally, it was difficult to take it home like that. Winning in this way is also more beautiful, because we were real group, all together. We are united, strong, a magic was created right away that led us to win the first two games.”