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ITALY-NORTHERN IRELAND 2-0
14 ‘Berardi, 38’ Building
Well the first. Italy begins their qualifying round in Qatar 2022 with three points and continues their extraordinary streak of consecutive useful results, now reaching 23. The Azzurri beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in the Tardini. The advantage is signed by Berardi and puts the game downhill, then Immobile is in charge of putting the result on ice before the break. The Lazio striker regains his goal for the national team after almost a year and a half (double against Armenia on November 18, 2019). The second half of the match offers a pleasant reaction from the Northern Irishmen of Baraclough that also highlights the performance of Donnarumma, decisive to keep a clean sheet and defend the first success in group C.
Unlock Berardi, Immobile dials blue again
Mancini chooses Locatelli as manager and Pellegrini is preferred to Barella, with Verratti completing midfield. At the center of the attack is Immobile, on the sides Berardi and Insigne. Baraclough opts for the 4-man defense: Davis plays slightly more advanced than the three in midfield, the forwards are Whyte and Magennis. Smooth start for the Azzurri, after having wasted a counterattack, thanks also to the convincing attitude of the Northern Irishmen. However, after ten laps of the clock, the host defense makes the first mistake and it is discovered in Florenzi’s launch for Immobile who, after an excellent save, drowns the conclusion in front of the goalkeeper. Before the quarter of an hour, it is still the PSG side who inspires, this time from Berardi, who concentrates and does not forgive, breaking the tie with a left-hander at the near post. At this point, Italy lights up and immediately comes close to turning with another cut from Immobile, good on the on-the-go impact and plugging from Peacock-Farrell. Soon after, it’s up to Emerson to scare off his opponents, with a header to the side, before Insigne and Florenzi try from afar. Mancini’s selection manages the advantage without raising the pace too much and at the end of the first half, at the restart, it is doubled. Escape from motionless and dry conclusion with the left-hander who, on the third attempt, punishes the goalkeeper, with a hole in the post.
Baraclough’s team also started the recovery with ingenuity, building within seconds the first opportunity in the Magennis-Whyte axis, with the latter’s volley ending on the outside of the net. The defense, however, continues to give the azzurri too much space and offers another opportunity to Immobile, imprecise with his head on the edge of the small area. Italy does not relax too much and risks paying a high price for it. The Locatelli passage is too short for Donnarumma who, with his foot, opposes Whyte’s interlude. Then, as the action continued, the goalkeeper also rejected Smith’s volley. The blues bite again with the personal action of Insigne, good in control and then protagonist of the classic movement to return to the right to turn that has no luck. Northern Ireland did not give up and called Donnarumma again, then the various changes helped carry the game into the 90 ‘without further danger, if not McNair’s high conclusion from the top of the spot. Immobile and Spinazzola miss the knockout blow, the triple whistle definitely establishes the three points for Mancini’s selection. The game against Bulgaria on Sunday.
TABLE
ITALY (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Florenzi, Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson (75 ‘Spinazzola); Pellegrini (64 ‘Barella), Locatelli (84’ Pessina), Verratti; Berardi (75 ‘Church), Building, Insigne (84’ Griffin). Connecticut. Mancini
NORTHERN IRELAND (4-3-1-2): Peacock-Farrell; Smith, Evans J., Cathcart, Dallas; Evans C. (46 ‘Saville), McNair, McCann (78’ Thompson); Davis; Whyte (64 ‘Lavery), Magennis (78’ Lafferty). Connecticut. Baraclough
Ammonites: Saville, Thompson
