Nations League: after a nightmarish start, Italy expels the Parc des Princes
Nations League: after a nightmarish start Italy expels the Parc des Princes
At the Parc des Princes in Paris big and happy surprise: Luciano Spalletti’s Italy beat Didier Deschamps’ hosts France 3-1 in the opening match of Group 2 of Nations League A. At the same time with the same score Belgium beat Israel behind closed doors in Debrecen, Hungary.
Italy’s and Di Lorenzo’s approach è from… European championships: the lateral had the ball stolen by Barcola, who right-footed after only 14 seconds pierced Donnarumma, his clubmate at Paris Saint-Germain, who did not even have his gloves laced up. On 6’ Pellegrini from the left long for Cambiaso, header for Frattesi who again header hits a glaring crossbar, header also by Retegui, off target.
At’11’ Olise tries from outside the box, Donnarumma, who took a blow to the back, nevertheless parries safely in the dive. At 26’ Retegui tries a left-footed shot into the box between two, Maignan blocks. At 30’ the splendid equalizer: Cambiaso from the right for Dimarco, ball for Tonali who returns it to him with a heel on the volley, and the Inter lateral from the left, again on the volley, makes Maignan dry. On 35’ Retegui’s header puts it out but he uselessly claims a corner deflection, which the referee sees instead when Ricci changes the trajectory of a shot by an extraordinary Barcola.
Resume. Raspadori, who came in for Pellegrini and was served from the left by Tonali, shoots weakly at Maignan, who is yanked by Retegui and is rightly cautioned. But three minutes later, at 51’, comes Italy’s lead: Retegui off-center on the right of first serves Frattesi who left-footed on the wing beats Maignan. On 59’ Dimarco from the left for Retegui whose header is fortunately deflected into the corner again by Saliba, on the corner Frattesi strikes a header and Maignan miraculously clears.
At 63’ Griezmann for Dembele who all alone in the area clumsily ciccares the ball with his left. At 70’ Di Lorenzo in front of Donnarumma providentially rejects a low cross from the right by Dembele anticipating Griezmann. Within ten minutes the Azzurri lost Frattesi and Calafiori, two of the best, who were replaced by Udogie and Buongiorno who immediately saved on another low cross from France. But on 74’ there’è Italy’s trio: Udogie from the left, Raspadori arrives, wedges himself into the hosts’ defense and scores the 3-1.
At 77’Griezmann’s left-footed left-footed shot grazes the cross of the posts. At’84’ Tonali escapes down the right and then puts in the center where Kone puts in a providential patch. At’86’ Mbappé’s number from the right, then support in the middle from the goal line, Donnarumma deflects and Di Lorenzo unravels. France’s last attempt è by Kone from outside the box, just wide. After 16 years, Italy returns to beat the Bleus.
