Final result: Italy-North Macedonia 0-1
The report cards of Italy (by Raimondo De Magistris)
Donnarumma 5 – The first conclusion in his parts comes at the end of the first half, an unassuming shot by Trajkovski blocked. It is the mirror of a match dominated by the Azzurri, which Donnarumma watches as a spectator until the atrocious final joke.
Florenzi 5.5 – In the first half he became the protagonist of the only real noteworthy defensive intervention by the Azzurri, a slip to stop Churlinov direct in goal.
Mancini 5.5 – Never called to overtime, punctual when he has to play in advance. He makes a single mistake in the first half which Florenzi makes up for in a crash. From the 89th Chiellini sv – Enter just in time to see his Italy sink up close.
Sticks 5.5 – He is called to lead the defense on one of the most bitter nights in the history of the national team.
Emerson Palmieri 5.5 – Careful when there is a need to defend, not a great support when it has to overlap: the first pocket reaches the 85th but Pellegrini does not take advantage of it.
Stretcher 4.5 – The same Barella seen in the last few matches with the Inter shirt, so not a good Barella. More than in racing, he lacks clarity: the tears are there but they are systematically ends in themselves. From the 77th Tonali sv
Jorginho 4.5 – Man-controlled by Bardi, even when he gets rid of man-marking he can’t make a difference. Discreet in the first half hour, then drops to the distance.
Verratti 5 – For continuity, for presence, for verticalizations the best of the blue median. But he too is not decisive, never the protagonist of a winning paw.
Berardi 4 – Shy, then imprecise: in the first 63 minutes the Azzurri’s most sensational occasions happen on his feet, but the clarity he shows every Sunday with the Sassuolo shirt tonight has given way to a total lack of clarity. He is not the only one, unfortunately. Dall’89esimo João Pedro –
Immobile 4 – Same story, again. The fearless center-forward who drags Lazio to the national team every Sunday does not make the difference with the blue shirt. This time historical courses and appeals are not enough: Italy plays systematically in the last 40 meters but the center forward is not there. Tonight too. From the 77th Pellegrini sv
Badge 4 – From number 10 one would expect the extra, different, enlightened bet. But it is the most predictable of the blue trident: it is limited to the simple passage, most of the time it is not even called into question. From the 64th Raspadori 5 – Enter to give more lightheartedness but it is evanescent.
Roberto Mancini 3 – The European was his victory, this was his defeat. The group that triumphed at Wembley eight months ago tonight have betrayed him.
North Macedonia report cards (by Andrea Piras)
Dimitrievski 6.5 – He risks combining the omelette by delivering the ball to Berardi who wastes. Some thrilling exits but also some very good interventions like the answer on Immobile and Insigne.
S. Ristovski 6 – Suffers from the offensives of Emerson Palmieri who clears his parts practically undisturbed going to cross towards the center of the area in the first half. In the second half he is more careful.
Velkovski 6.5 – The touch of the ball is not always clean. He makes a few too many technical errors but on the blue pressure he manages to respond with determination. From 88 ‘Ristevski sv
Musliu 7 – He is saved in a really difficult evening. It takes the body and the excellent choice of time in the intervention of the head in the center of the area. He keeps up a defense that makes a few too many mistakes on the way out.
Alioski 6 – Not even a minute has passed on the clock and he makes Berardi feel the cleats. After a difficult first half, he defends the fort from the assaults of the Azzurri.
Churlinov 6 – Many technical errors ball and chain. He tries to be seen in a few restarts but ends up being stopped by the blue defense that keeps an excellent watch on him without making too much effort. In the second half he is more precise in the defensive phase.
Ademi 5,5 – Not in top condition. The midfield of Italy dominates him, breaking through on all sides. Little his contribution in the construction of the action. No sharp and many shadows this evening. Dal 60 ‘Spirovski 6 – Helps the team a lot in the defensive phase, protecting the spaces.
Bardi 6,5 – Man-placed on Jorginho but the difference in quality is evident with the direct opponent who always starts with the ball and chain.
Nikolov 5 – You hardly ever see yourself devoting more to the non-possession phase. Little support from him instead in the construction phase of the action where he can not find outlets. From 60 ‘Ashkovski 6.5 – Enter with the right attitude to build density and protect the penalty area. It does its job well.
M. Ristovski 5 – The playable balls are not many but when he is searched in depth by his teammates, he is too easily blocked by the defense of the Italian national team. From 73 ‘Miovski 5.5 – He fights but fails to give the decisive leap inside the penalty area.
Trajkovski 7 – The executioner of Italy in “his” Palermo. Poisonous diagonal in the recovery with the ball ending in the corner where Donnarumma cannot reach.
Blagoja Milevski 7 – He comes to Palermo not to play and to defend the fort and his tactics rewards him. With Trajkovski he finds a goal in the final at the first real chance that sends us home and allows his national team to play for a place in the next World Cup on Tuesday with Portugal.
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