[ad_1]
On the second day of League A League of Nations, Italy beat the Netherlands 1-0, win their first win after blocking and jump to the top of group 1. In Amsterdam, fantastic first half of the azzurri, who put the hosts under their feet and found the winning goal in the recovery, thanks to a header Stretcher served by building (46 ‘). In the second half, Donnarumma beat Van de Beek, Kean devoured the double at 91 ‘.
THE MATCH
After the half step against Bosnia, Italy recovered immediately, conquering Amsterdam and took the lead in their group. Mancini presents seven novelties regarding the match with Bosnia (confirmations only for Donnarumma, Bonucci, Barella and Insigne) and the Azzurri respond to the greats, knocking out the most direct rival for the qualification to the Finals. A deserved success, built with a great first half where Italy put in great pressure, a splendid circulation of the ball with the forwards who were very good in several throughout the attack front. Jorginho, absent in Florence, confirms that he is truly irreplaceable and makes the team work wonderfully. A muscular and imaginative midfield, completed in style by match winner Barella and by Locatelli, the star of a fabulous debut. Spinazzola and Insigne were a thorn in the left side, literally driving Hateboer and poor Veltman crazy, constantly attacked by Immobile, the weak link in the orange rear. Apart from a nice piece by Wijnaldum, the first fraction is a blue monologue. Zaniolo (unfortunate Roman player, forced to leave due to a knee problem that makes one fear the worst), Immobile and Insigne scare Cillessen, a prelude to Barella’s beautiful goal after a splendid choral action.
The second part begins with Insigne almost doubling down (good Cillessen), then Donnarumma makes sense of his night with a great save over Van de Beek. The hosts push, the azzurri have opportunities in the counterattack but do not take advantage of them. With the entry of Luuk De Jong, the last quarter of an hour is real suffering, but the blue wall led by Chiellini and Bonucci withstands the impact and avoids what would have been a real joke. Three points won with personality and game: Italy does not want to make an appearance in this League of Nations.
REPORT CARDS
Veltman 5 – Without De Ligt and De Vrij, Lodeweges relies on newly signed Brighton as a partner of Van Dijk. It is clear from the beginning that he is the weak link, it is no coincidence that Immobile always goes by his side and stays away from the center of Liverpool.
Payment 5 – He has the face of a lion tattooed on his back, but Chiellini and Bonucci make him a tender lamb in the field. A couple of conclusions without worrying Donnarumma. A bit.
Wijnaldum 6.5 – Tall winger or midfielder, the Liverpool midfielder is the most energetic and dangerous of his men. He runs for two and almost always does the right thing.
Stretcher 7 – The fairytale summer of the Inter midfielder continues, returning from a great Europa League and the best against Bosnia. Although it is not his specialty, the squash with which Holland stretches is like a true striker.
Motionless 7 – With the blue jersey he is not the lousy Lazio sniper, but he works hard for the team, varied across the front and gives Barella the assist for the goal that decides the match.
Chiellini 6.5 – The captain returns to the national team at 16 months. A quarter of an hour to get rid of rust with too many wrong supports, then stick to Depay and constantly anticipate it.
TABLE
HOLLAND-ITALY 0-1
Netherlands (4-3-3): Cillessen 6; Hateboer 5 (25 ‘st Dumfries 6), Veltman 5, Van Dijk 6, Aké 5 (36’ st L. De Jong sv; De Roon 6, Van de Beek 5.5 (12 ‘st Bergwijn 5.5), F De Jong 6, Wijnaldum 6.5, Depay 5, Promes 5. Available.: Krul, Bizot, Tete, Fer, Babel, Schuurs, Strootman, Ihattaren, Wijndal. All.: Lodeweges 5
Italy (4-3-3): Donnarumma 7; D’Ambrosio 6, Bonucci 6.5, Chiellini 6.5, Spinazzola 7; Barella 7, Jorginho 7, Locatelli 7 (36 ‘st Cristante sv); Zaniolo 6 (42 ‘Kean 6), Property 7, Insigne 7 (45’ st Chiesa sv). Available.: Sirigu, Cragno, Di Lorenzo, Pellegrini, Belotti, Mancini, Acerbi, Florenzi, Caputo. All.: Mancini 7
Referee: Brych (Germania)
Markers: 46 ‘pt Barella (I)
Ammonites: D’Ambrosio (I), Veltman (O), Cristante (I), Wijnaldum (O), Chiellini (I), Depay (O)
Expelled: –
Note: –
THE STATISTICS
Roberto Mancini has lost only two of the first 21 games on the national team’s bench, like Marcello Lippi: only Ferruccio Valcareggi has registered fewer defeats (one) after so many games with the Azzurri.
Italy does not suffer more than one goal in 19 consecutive games: the last time Azzurri had a longer streak without at least two passive goals in a single game dates back to 2006 (24 games, a series that saw the draw as the last race 1-1 at the 2006 World Cup against France).
Italy is unbeaten in the seven games played in Amsterdam against the Netherlands: three wins and four draws in the set.
Italy kept a clean sheet against the Netherlands away from home (including matches on neutral ground) for the third time in their history: the previous ones in February 1990 with Walter Zenga in goal and in 2000 with Francesco Toldo.
Nicolò Barella is the first player to score a header with Alberto Gilardino’s team against the Netherlands in November 2005, also in that case in Amsterdam.
Only Andrea Belotti (five goals) has scored more goals than Barella (four) for the national team since the arrival of Roberto Mancini on the bench.
Barella is the first Inter player to lead the Éder national team’s goal against Uruguay in June 2017.
Three of Italy’s last four goals in all competitions have been headers.
Manuel Locatelli is the 55th player that Roberto Mancini has used since his arrival in the national team and the 25th who has made his debut under the current Azzurro coach.
Roberto Mancini has lined up the second oldest starting lineup (27 years, 311 days) since he sat on the Azzurra bench, only 11 years younger than the match against Bosnia in June 2019 (28 years, 181 days).
See also
League of Nations
Anxiety for Zaniolo: “major sprain” in the left knee
