On the day of the beginning of World Cup in Qatarwith the opening match between the hosts and Ecuador, Roberto Mancini’s Italy lost badly by 2-0 a friendly in Austriaagainst the national team coached by Ralf Rangnick, due to Schlager’s goals following Arnautovic’s assist and Alaba’s free-kick from 25 metres, thanks to two sensational mistakes by Verratti on the way out (it wasn’t a foul) in midfield and Donnarumma between the posts. Incredible to say, given the lineage of the European Champions, but after the clamorous failure to qualify for the world competition, which in this month will sharpen regrets exponentially, the Azzurri in Vienna play a sad match, in perhaps their darkest hour: after beating Albania in Tirana, it ends badly at 20.45 in the last match of the year, at the Ernst Happel stadium in Vienna, against a national team also absent from Qatar. Even the experiments and tests of new solutions don’t work, in view of the qualifications for the next European Championships. Mancini starts with Raspadori from 9, together with Politano and Grifo. In Austria Arnautovic and Alaba from 1′. Immediately dangerous Adamu, then Alaba saves on Raspadori: Italy practically ends here. Schlager unlocks it with an assist from Arnautovic and a sensational turnover from Verrattithen it is Seiwald who touches the encore, before the doubling on Alaba’s free-kick, with a good shot on which Donnarumma misses badly. In the second half Chiesa and Zaniolo try to wake up and come close to scoring the 2-1 goal, which however does not arrive. A nightmare 2022 ends sadly, with the exception of qualifying for the Nations League finals, after the incredible 2021.
STATISTICS AND BACKGROUND – There are 38 precedents between Italy and Austria with the balance in favor of the national team which has collected 18 victories against the 12 victories of the Austrian national team, 8 draws. The first official match between these two national teams was played in 1934 with Italy’s 1-0 success. The two teams faced each other three times also in the final phase of the World Cup (1978, 1990 and 1998) with victories for the Italian national team. The last encounters between Italy and Austria date back to 2008, with the match ending 2-2, and in the round of 16 of the last European Championship, with Italy winning 2-1 in extra time.
THE OFFICIAL FORMATIONS: AUSTRIA (4-2-3-1): Lindner; Posch, Lienhart, Alaba, Wober; Seiwald, Schlager; Baumgartner, Sabitzer, Adamu; Arnautovic. Coach: Ralf Rangnick.
ITALY (3-4-3): Donnarumma; Cats, Bonucci, Acerbi; Di Lorenzo, Barella, Verratti, Dimarco; Politano, Raspadori, Grifo. Coach: Roberto Mancini.
