At Wembley, after 90 minutes of balance, the goals in extra time decide everything. Kalajdzic’s goal was useless
L’Italy suffers, but continues the journey a Euro 2020. In the round of 16 the team of Mancini beat Austria 2-1 in extra time and took the lead in the quarterfinals, where he will face the winning of Portugal-Belgium. At Wembley a tight and balanced race in regulation time: the Azzurri hit a cross with Immobile, then Taylor cancels a goal from Arnautovic. In extra time to sign Church (95′), Pessina (105′) e Kalajdzic (114′).
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THE MATCH
Mancini’s Italy took 120 minutes to prove that he is even more of a team and continue to dream. At the end of a very tight match against a good Austria, Chiesa and Pessina take care of dragging the Azzurri to the quarterfinals. But it is the team effort that convinces. In fact, this time everything was decided by two players who entered the race. Yet another demonstration of a united group, with many solutions and made up of players ready to make the most of every chance. Net of a complicated test and a game that was sometimes “dirty” and very closed, the difference was made by Mancini’s usual playing principles and the propensity to attack in every moment of the match. Additional included. After all, the two Azzurri goals arrived at the crucial moment of the match, when the energies drop and to reach the goal it is necessary to go beyond the limits. A test of strength that at this point of the tournament will be useful for the Azzurri to face the next challenges of the tournament with more “weapons”, determination and certainty.
After the turnover with Wales, for the first direct clash of Euro 2020 Mancini relies on certainties by returning the keys of the midfield to Barella, Jorginho and Verratti and focusing again on the trident Berardi-Immobile-Insigne. Foda instead finds Hinteregger and Grlillitsch square and Schlager in front of the defense and Laimer, Sabitzer and Baumgartner behind Arnautovic. Choices that immediately mark the start of the match. As expected, Italy seeks possession and maneuver with many men. Austria, however, does not retreat and tries to play it openly trying to immediately suffocate the blue construction and set the game from behind in amplitude. An attitude that on the one hand complicates the plans of Mancini’s men a bit at the start of the maneuver, but on the other also lends its side to the verticalizations for the Immobile. At a good pace in the first ten minutes there are no great occasions, then Italy raises the center of gravity and increases the laps to the left. Spinazzola shoots wide from a good position, then Bachmann blocks a weak shot from Insigne and a sure shot from Barella. Occasions that increase the blue pressure, but also allow Austria to restart. Arnatutovic kicks high on the development of a counterattack, then it is again Mancini’s men who push with Verratti between the lines and aim for the red and white bunker with many men. With the spaces clogged, Immobile hits the intersection of the poles with a bolide from a distance, then the first half ends on a right foot from Spinazzola neutralized by Bachmann.
The second half begins again with the Azzurri possession, a save by Dragovic on Berardi and a free-kick from Alaba slightly high. More nervous, slow and imprecise in the ball, Italy struggles to find spaces and loses a bit the distance between the departments. On the one hand, Alaba closes well on a cross from Insigne for Berardi, then Bonucci heads high on the developments of a corner. On the other hand, a dangerous shot by Sabitzer ends wide, then Taylor cancels a goal by Arnautovic with the help of the var for an irregular position. Decision that makes Italy breathe a sigh of relief and starts the swirl of exchange rates. On the hunt for energy and ideas, Mancini leverages Barella and Verratti and brings in Pessina and Locatelli. But Italy struggles to break through. On the ball, Spinazzola invents for Berardi, but the Sassuolo striker gets it all wrong by trying a half overhead on the fly and then gives way to Chiesa. Belotti also enters the final and the Azzurri attack with their heads down. Dragovic closes well after a good play by Insigne, then the Austrian defense clears a dangerous cross from Gallo and the match goes into extra time.
In the extra-time Bachmann stops a right from Chiesa after a good side by Belotti, then it is the Juve winger who unlocks the match with a powerful left in the area. Goal that breaks the balance and changes the game. With little energy, in fact, the game becomes a one-on-one across the board, with continuous reversals in front. In the lead, the Azzurri retreat to protect the result, but do not give up on creating and attacking the depth as soon as they can. Bachmann saves a poisonous free-kick from Insigne, then Pessina doubles the score after an excellent side by Acerbi in the area. Network that directs the race on the blue tracks, but that is not enough to get to the triple whistle without risk. Donnarumma flies on a Schaub fireball, then Sabitzer shoots high from a good position after a couple of dangerous counter-attacks by Belotti & Co. a thrilling ending. Chiesa has a couple of chances to score the three of a kind, but he still fails to hit the target and so it’s up to Bonucci & Co. to hurry up the practice by tightening the lines and defending the result. Italy suffers but flies to the quarters. Austria instead greets Euro 2020 head on.
REPORT CARDS
Church 7.5: enters in Berardi’s place and unlocks the race with a flash of his own. Leg, liveliness and warm foot. In the end he misses a few too many occasions
Spinazzola 7.5: when he attacks he has another step and Italy pushes on his side. Lots of racing, pressure and good plays. We need the assist to Chiesa
Pessina 7,5: the story continues. Enter and score the goal that allows Italy to fly to the quarterfinals. He gives solidity and run in the median and is still ready to hit the target
Immobile 6,5: attacks the depth with the right timing dictating the passage and seeking dialogue with fellow department. In the first half he runs, fights and hits the intersection with a right from afar. Less shine in the second half
Berardi 5,5: bad evening. The man never jumps and fails to be dangerous even returning to the left. Before going out he tries a half overhead kick in the area and gets it all wrong
Arnautovic 6.5: he takes little part in the maneuver, but when the ball arrives at his side, it always creates dangers by playing on the bank, relying on the body or inventing in the strait. It marks, but the var cancels
Grlillitsch 6,5: he places himself in front of the defense and manages the non-possession phase well, closing the spaces for the blue pockets in order. Calm and protective substance by Bachmann & Co.
Daughter 5.5: the Di Lorenzo-Berardi tandem forces him to stay low and work on cover. Few ideas and noteworthy plays
THE TABLE
ITALY 2-1 AUSTRIA (0-0 dtr)
Italy (4-3-3): Donnarumma 6.5; Di Lorenzo 6.5, Bonucci 6, Acerbi 6.5, Spinazzola 7.5; Barella 5.5 (22 ‘st Pessina 7.5), Jorginho 6.5, Verratti 6 (22’ st Locatelli 6); Berardi 5.5 (39 ‘st Church 7.5), Building 6.5 (39’ st Belotti 6.5), Insigne 6.5 (3 ‘sts Cristante sv).
Available: Sirigu, Meret, Emerson, Bernardeschi, Raspadori, Bastoni, Toloi. All.: Mancini 7
Austria (4-2-3-1): Bachmann 6.5; Lainer 6 (9 ‘sts Trimmel 6), Dragovic 6, Hinteregger 6, Alaba 5.5; Schlager 6 (1 ‘sts Gregoritsch 5.5), Grlillitsch 6.5 (1’ sts Schaub); Laimer 6.5 (9 ‘sts Ilsanker sv), Sabitzer 6, Baumgartner 5.5 (45’ st Schopf 6); Arnautovic 6.5 (7 ‘pts Kalajdzic 6.5).
Available: A. Schlager, Pervan, Ulmer, Posch, Baumgartlinger, Lienhart. All.: O
Referee: Taylor (Ing)
Markers: 5 ‘pts Church (I), 15’ pts Pessina (I), 9 ‘sts Kalajdzic (A)
Ammonites: Di Lorenzo, Barella (I); Arnautovic, Hinteregger, Dragovic (A)
Expelled: –
THE STATISTICS
• Italy has set its new record of consecutive successes: 12, exceeding the 11 established with Roberto Mancini on the bench, in 2019.
• Italy have set their new record for consecutive games without defeat, considering all competitions: 31; exceeded 30 under the management of Vittorio Pozzo, between 1935 and 1939.
• Italy conceded goals 1168 minutes of play after the previous one (October 2020 against the Netherlands), thus failing to reach the record of 12 games in 1974, where however the Azzurri stopped at 1143 minutes without conceding.
• This was the first ever overtime between World Cup and European Championships in which three substitutes scored.
• Italy have gone into extra time in six of their last nine knockout games in the European Championships.
• Federico Chiesa’s is the first goal scored by Italy in eight extra time in the European Championships.
• Italy have reached the quarter-finals in all of their last four Europeans.
• Federico Chiesa scored in a European Championship game 25 years and 12 days after his father Enrico’s goal (14 June vs Czech Republic).
• Italy have won all five World Cup and European Cup matches against Austria, all with just one goal difference.
• Matteo Pessina has scored four goals for Italy in just 347 minutes played – an average of one goal every 87 minutes.
• Italy have made twice as many shots on goal in the first half overtime (4) compared to all the first 90 minutes of play (2).
• Today was Leonardo Bonucci’s sixth knockout stage appearance at the European Championships: no player counts more (six also for Gianluigi Buffon).
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