Italy-Sweden U21 4-1: goal by Maleh, Scamacca and double by Raspadori

Nicolato’s team, already qualified for the next European championship, also beats the Scandinavians and avenges the 0-3 of the first leg: Maleh opens, then the Sassuolo striker twice and Scamacca’s goal. Karlsson’s guest network

Another victory, another four of a kind, against the only team that had beaten the blues so far. Italy Under 21 concludes the qualifying round for the European Championship in a great way, effectively eliminating Sweden from the final phase.

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blue solidity

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As in the first leg in September, Sweden retreats behind two lines and then sink with their arrows: in Kalmar they had been deeply wounded. But this time in front there is a more solid Italy, which with the three behind guarantees at least numerical parity when Karlsson joins the two forwards (in the first leg he was one of the keys to the blue collapse). This way Nicolato’s team can look for their own game trajectories. Take your time. In fact, the first ring arrives only at 21 ‘: Melegoni breaks the line by intercepting a support in midfield and triggers a three against four that sends Scamacca to the shot. Too central. The lines of play, however, are the usual, they can be seen and produced the goal of the blue advantage: game change for Sala, head first touch for Maleh who instinctively turns splendidly first with the left, in an aesthetically spectacular gesture. Same kind of action as the first goal in Iceland a week ago. It still works at 35 ‘: from right to left for Sala, cross from left to right for Zappa who stops but kicks badly. When Karlsson changed sides in the 40th minute, it was a small tactical victory for the Azzurri: the best Swedish weapon, as seen in Kalmar, forced to move. On the 9th, however, in the 44th minute he triggers Bengtsson vertically, stopped at the exit by Cerofolini who then also stops Nygren.

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the recovery

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Nicolato starts again with Delprato and Marchizza for Buongiorno and Sala. And above all with the doubling: Raspadori the little one escapes between the Swedish lungagnoni and then shoots a giant right from the edge. This time the Swedish reaction is there is in a right from Karlsson who kisses the post and shortens the distance. The Swedish coach Eriksson goes all out: in Abraham and Svensson and 4-2—3-1 hyperoffensive. But in reality he opens half the field to the blue races. And the blues run. Bengtsson knocks out Melegoni in the area but the referee Atwell blows a free kick out on 12 minutes. Not bad, at 16 ‘blue trio: break by Melegoni, heel by Scamacca, blessing by Raspadori. Like Pobega in Iceland and Scamacca in Luxembourg. Zappa touches the post and the poker in the 19 ‘- diagonal out of a nothing – like Melegoni a minute later with a left from outside. Poker still arrives, on 22 ‘, with the signature missing: triggered by the unleashed Zappa, Scamacca slips the sixth goal of his qualifying under the legs of the goalkeeper Dahlberg. And Kalmar’s 3-0 “draws” too, just to put things right. On 10 December there will be the draw for the group stage which will be played from 24 to 31 March. We go to the European by carriage.

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