Italy qualified for the quarterfinals after a game of enormous suffering against dirty and bad Austria: the young blues have grown up tonight

End who theEuropean of Italy had been all one party. The matches always a Roma, the mattress group, the goleade, i cori, le nights magical. But the European Championship is not a party, it is not only played at home, against opponents that dodge. Not for one national young, with so much enthusiasm and less talent, that he hasn’t won anything yet. TheAustria, in the round of 16. A game dirty, not ugly, far from it, too bad. Like the opponents. A team that clings to the shirts, that bites them ankles. That Italy had never met, and evidently was not prepared for meet. So much so that it took him 120 minutes, 90 distressing with white nets, 15 of liberation, another 15 of suffering, to come to terms with it: 2-1, only after having fear.

It took overtime, the changes of Mancini, a help from Where, a magic of Church, to overcome Austria. A national team that has obvious limits, but hides them well. With Alaba, the external director of this training, central point of reference while playing in the band. An orderly deployment. And then Arnautovic in front, a small Ibra, having reached maturity no, it would be excessive for him, but still one sufficient stability to be a footballer of international level. Much in better shape than the buffer teams met so far, more solid, appeared disastrous at the debut against Macedonia but then grew slowly, away from the spotlight, while under the spotlight Italy imposed itself as favorite. No pressure on one side, a lot of pressure on the other. Even but not only this explains the game tonight, which should have been one formalities and instead it turned into a nightmare for at least ninety minutes.

It was to be expected, the hard contrasts, the edges and the shoulder undoubtedly, the fine plays, the ball turn and the very high rhythms, perhaps a little less. Arnautovic immediately sets the record straight: booked after 30 seconds for a fallaccio leaving trail up Stretcher. The whole game in its first play will not be a walk in the park. Surprised at the beginning, Italy takes a while to enter the competition. A quarter of an hour, when Barella strikes from the winger on an assist from Spinazzola engaging the opposing goalkeeper. It is the first opportunity, it is the sign that Italy has grown, has taken over game: he closed his opponents and is played in only one half of the field. But Austria responds with Arnautovic running away on the counterattack a Bonucci, then ends badly, but remember that there is no distraction.

The key to trying to undermine the orderly Austrian line-up is the duel of Spinazzola versus Lainer (against practically anyone in this European to tell the truth): it is the blue who jumps the opponent more often and always seems to be able to create danger. Even if a lot of pressure doesn’t produce much. One shot, resounding, from thirty meters, from nowhere Immobile, a crossroads that could have been a eurogol and put downhill in match. Instead we go to the interval at 0-0 and the recovery will not be easier. Rather. It opens up with Austria even more bad and a free kick by Alaba from the edge of the area, very dangerous, on which Donnarumma can only hope. In the second half Austria plays better. On the mixes, dirty balls, i bell towers get up in the middle of the area, go to the wedding. Find (almost) the advantage, with Arnautovic that slips Donnarumma after a bank of Alaba and the distraction of the whole defense, but the Var cancels for offside. It is the first difficulty of this European, which should shake Italy. To try Mancini changes, Locatelli e Pessina per Verratti e Stretcher, then also Church per Berardi e Belotti per Immobile. Two-thirds of midfield and of attack, the demonstration that something does not have worked.

Extra time is inevitable, theAustria he deserved them. And this is where Italy finally comes on. He turns it on Church, the blue who was missing in the first phase, set aside, almost lost, finds himself and Italy is back in the most important moment. He almost checks a cross of Spinazzola, crosses on the left fly, scores, moves away i ghosts. Then he drives them out for good Pessina, which in the fray is also doubled. It seems over, but it’s not because Donnarumma must make a great parade on Gregoritsch and then Kalajdzic, head on corner, shortens, transforming even the last five minutes into the umpteenth distress. Averted danger, sigh of relief. At the moment. For the quarters, the Belgium or the Portugal, the young Italy will have to grow. Maybe she grew up tonight.