Setback for the Netherlands in the coup duel against Italy

Italy wins the first hit game in Group 1 A-League of the Nations League in Amsterdam 1-0 against the Netherlands. The Dutch seem unusually helpless throughout the match.

Seconds before the break, Nicolo Barella scored the only goal of the game. The Inter Milan midfielder completed a magnificent attack with a header from close range after a cross from Ciro Immobile. The victory for coach Roberto Mancini’s team should have been greater. The Italians clearly dominated during the 90 minutes and got many more and better chances.

Opinions differ on how seriously the UEFA Nations League designer competition should be taken. In any case, Roberto Mancini is testing. Before goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, he used seven outfield players who were not in the starting lineup in the 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Besides Barella, only Giorgio Chiellini and Lorenzo Insigne started last Friday. One of the “newcomers” was Ciro Immobile, the top scorer in Serie A. He stood out for once, and not just in goal, as an excellent coach.

Italy seems more established

Dwight Lodeweges proceeds very differently from Mancini. The interim Dutch manager, who stepped into the gap for Barça’s new manager, changed his starting lineup with many top-tier European players, including ten legionnaires, in just one position ahead of the 1-0 win against Poland.

Under these conditions, it was astonishing that Italy’s ad hoc crew seemed so much better coordinated and maintained an order on the field that the Dutch could not cope with. Juventina centrals Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini have been together for 69 years. But they always looked faster and more vivid than the Dutch attackers and meant goalkeeper Donnarumma only had to save once in dire need.

In the second match of Group 1, Bosnia-Herzegovina lost 2-1 at home in Zenica against Poland, so after a third of the period, Italy leads the group alone with four points.

Telegrams and ranking list

Netherlands – Italy 0: 1 (0: 1). – Amsterdam. – SR Brych (GER). – Goal: 45.Barella 0-1.

Bosnia-Herzegovina – Poland 1: 2 (1: 1). – Zenica. – SR Cakir (TUR). – Goals: 24. Hajradinovic (foul penalty) 1-0. 45. Glik 1: 1. 67. Grosicki 1: 2.

Classification: 1. Italy 2/4 (2: 1). 2. Netherlands 2/3 (1: 1). 3. Poland 2/3 (2: 2). 4. Bosnia-Herzegovina 2/1 (2: 3).