Nations League, Italy-Poland 2-0. Azzurri first in the group

Domination of the Azzurri, who take the lead from the spot and then, with the Poles in ten, close the match in the final. Wednesday’s match in Sarajevo against Bosnia-Herzegovina was decisive

From our correspondent Andrea Elefante

November 15
– REGGIO EMILIA–

Dominated and yet suffered up to 7 ‘from the end, deserved, a hymn to football that Mancini has injected into the veins of this team, whoever plays: a victory that allows Italy to be the mistress of its destiny: by winning Wednesday in Bosnia, they will win the his group and therefore will be able to play at home, next October, the Nations League. A team that was stronger than an emergency never seen before (over twenty players unavailable), a week crossed by a thousand difficulties and also a referee direction that, not supported by the Var images, pardoned Poland with a red to Lewandowski , one probable in Goralski (later sent off for a double yellow card) and a penalty that would have led Italy to 2-0, before Berardi’s decisive doubling.

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the choices

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The Mancini-Evani tandem resolves the three doubts of the eve in favor of Florenzi (with the captain’s armband), Bastoni and Bernardeschi, preferred to Di Lorenzo, Romagnoli (on the bench, but certainly not at the top) and Berardi. Defense completed by Acerbi and Emerson, in midfield Locatelli and Barella alongside Jorginho, in front Belotti grits his teeth and Insigne finds his place on the left wing. The Polish coach locks the midfield: solid central couple in front of the defense (Krychowiak and Moder) and Linetty acts behind (sometimes alongside) Lewandowski, with Szymanski and Jozwiak on the flanks. “Italian” defense for three quarters: Bereszynski and Reca on the wings and Glik in the middle next to Bednarek.

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first half

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For 45 ‘it is only Italy, Donnarumma can limit himself to watching the bogey Lewandowski very isolated and a bit listless, never put in a position to hurt by a shy team, which only seems to want to understand how things will go. They go that Italy attacks the game as usual, manages it with its ball possession and its quality dialogue, supported by a high pressure that immediately seeks the recovery of the ball. Already after 7 ‘Szczesny understands that it will not be a quiet evening, when he has to stretch out to deflect a left-footed shot from Bernardeschi. After the fear for the Juventus player, who stops the game by touching his left foot as he falls to the ground, Italy begins to embroider as before. And it passes, indeed it would pass, on 20 ‘: from Bernardeschi to Barella, inside for Insigne who scores a goal that the French Turpin cancels because there is Belotti – unable to move – to hinder the goalkeeper’s attempt to save. The Var is invoked, which is not there, but the images alone clarify that the center forward’s participation in the action is not irrelevant. Instead the Var would be useful, immediately afterwards, when Lewandowski elbowed Bastoni in midfield that would have deserved the red. But Italy is not discouraged: an Insigne shot deflected for a corner (26 ‘) is the immediate starter of the Azzurri advantage. That comes on penalty for a held in the area on Belotti, who marvelously takes the time in Krychowiak on a cross from Bernardeschi: in the 27th minute Jorginho relentlessly “jumps” his penalty. And the doubling could reach the 35 ‘, when at the splendid invitation of Insigne the left turn of the Gallo is high.

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second half

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Another Poland, not only because Brzeczek with Zielinski increases front-wheel drive a little, bringing the Neapolitan closer to Linetty, to leave Lewandowski less isolated. But it does not last long, because Italy already after 4 ‘returns to scare Poland (from Bernardeschi to Barella, high shot) and at 8’ goes very close to 2-0, with a right-footed turn – his shot – by Insigne , deflected by Bereszinski enough to direct the conclusion in a corner kick. But Italy still builds the chance for the 2-0, canceled by the French referee who does not see a handball by Bednarek (from behind, but with a decidedly wide arm) on a shot by Belotti. When Brzeczek, looking for a 1-1 draw, adds Milik to Lewandowski, Poland remains in ten for yet another very hard foul by Goralski, who was sent off. In eleven against ten, Italy hides the ball from Poland, enhances its phrasing even more and a very long dialogue made up of 27 passes, finished by Insigne for Berarsi, who had taken the place of Bernardeschi, closes the game at 38 ‘. In glory, as it should have been, for how he had managed and dominated it.

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