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Qualifying tournament for the World Championship-2022. Group C
Sofia. “Vasil Levski”
Bulgaria 0-2 Italy
goals: Belotti 43 (pen), Locatelli 82
Bulgaria: P. Iliev, Sisinho (Karagaren 46), Antov, Bozhikov, Dimov, Tsvetanov, Vitanov (Raynov 88), Chochev, Kostadinov (Malinov 62), Delev (A. Iliev 78), Galabinov
Italy: D. Donnarumma, Florenzi (Di Lorenzo 68), Acerbi, Bonucci, Spinazzola, Verratti (Pessina 88), Barella, Sensi (Locatelli 68), Chiesa (Bernardeschi 76), Belotti (Immobile 75), Insigne
Warnings: Kostadinov 57, Bozhikov 59 – Locatelli 84, Bernardeski 89
Chief referee: Slavko Vincic (Slovenia)
The attitude towards the first round matches of Group C was determined by the first half. Italy have scored two goals for Northern Ireland and should have scored more. As a result, it allowed him to extend his matchless streak to 23rd place. Roberto Mancini called out the perfect, wonderful half. At the same time, Bulgaria in their first half, coach Yasen Petrov’s debut, conceded three goals in the 13th minute and looked terrible. It was only in the second half that Bulgaria got up, put pressure on the Swiss, while Italy gave up and often fumbled. That left the intrigue for the party in Sofia. However, there were no surprises here either.
Even in that great first half, “Azzurri” created only with counterattacks and long shots. Here the opponent acted more correctly. “Lions”, like the rival, who changed six players in the starting lineup, started a couple of minutes of pressure, then retired to a deep defense, with a 5-3-1-1 scheme blocking everything. And it worked. This is not the first time that Mancini’s charges have manifested in a positional attack. They got nothing from 71 percent of the ball, but complete peace of mind on defense. Petrov’s barriers were also quiet, interrupting trivial shots into the penalty area from the spot, catching Chiesa offside.
Only referee Slavko Vincic allowed the guests to go into halftime with an advantage. Probably even more likely the absence of VAR. The video would show that Belotti in the fight with Dimov fell without fail, or even faked. The referee immediately pointed to the “point” and was not going to change his mind. Andrea took the penalty hard and low.
The goal allowed the Italians to start the second half no less impressive, just as invisible. Iliev easily took a couple of weak blows from Chiesa and Bonucci. The Bulgarians began to attack. Delev shot on the right side of the penalty area, the outstretched Sensi touched with an outstretched hand. For whatever reason, Vincic did not sanction. And the general low level of the owners did not allow to create more. Although they were in possession of the ball more and more often in the context of guests who were already completely asleep. The latter did not score either. Even as the long pass to Verratti finally passed in the 73rd minute. Belotti threw the goalkeeper, but he hit the rack and finished off imprecisely.
Closer to the end of the match, the outsider was simply tired, both physically and mentally. Then the favorite and found his goal. And it turned out wonderfully. He started with a heel pass, then Insigne from the left flank found Locatelli, who replaced him, and he famously spun from 14 meters. After that, Immobile also lost the duel with the goalkeeper.
Three points, two goals scored, 24th consecutive unbeaten match, continuation of the best start to a coach’s cadence in the history of the Italian national team, a dry match with practically no chance of an opponent’s attack – this is not a match asset for Squadra Azzurra. But the level of the game, especially in positional attack, urgently needs to improve. And the Bulgarians simply lack quality. And the favors of the referees.
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St. Gallen. “Kibunpark”
Switzerland – Lithuania 1: 0
Goal: Shakiri 2
Switzerland: Sommer, Elvedi, Akandji, Rodríguez, Widmer (Edimilson 65), Freuler (Zakaria 66), Jaka, Vargas (Zuber 79), Shakiri (Mehmedi 80), Embolo (Gavranovich 65), Seferovich
Lithuania: Shvedkauskas, Mikolyunas, Beneta, Gaspyuitis, Vaitkunas, Shimkus, Novikovas, Dapkus, Cream (Eliosius 75), Lazickas (Laukzemis 58), Chernykh (Petravicius 81)
Warning: Black 42
Chief referee: Matthias Gestranius (Finland)
The Swiss also admired their first half, the three fastest goals in the history of the national team. And they no longer wanted to see the game as in the second. Against the 129th FIFA ranking team, who lost the friendly in Kosovo on Wednesday with a score of 0: 4, they also wanted to improve goal difference. Although Lithuania has joined in the last 16 months. After just one point in the Euro Qualifier and last place in the group, even behind Luxembourg, after just one win in 29 matches, they scored five in ten. Including Fort Albania in one visit. Against Shakiri and Jaki, he held up well too.
The start of the match was delayed 15 minutes because the goal on the field was … 10 centimeters higher than normal. Simple clearly annoyed the guests. Dapkus gave a terrible pass and Embolo immediately sent Shakiri into the penalty area. But after that, the “minus” for the Lithuanians can only be recorded as a total absence in attack and in possession of the ball. The guests defended themselves well. Only Akanji hit the shelf with his head from a corner, Vargas also almost hit his head. And in the second half, Shvedkauskas only rejected good goals from Zuber, Zakaria, Vargas and saved Seferovich in the 92nd minute. Then Zakaria finished badly.
Given Nati’s enormous territorial and statistical advantage, 69:31 in possession of the ball, 19: 5 in shots on goal, some chances to score, his victory is fair. However, 1: 0 for such an ambitious team over an opponent like this is very little. They also need to add. And the Lithuanian national team is capable of producing surprising results this season.
