Reaction was needed and reaction has arrived, at least from the point of view of the result. Italy puts the knockout against England behind them and immediately returns to winning ways against Malta, in the second match of the Euro 2024 qualifiers. At the Ta’Qali National Stadium, coach Roberto Mancini’s team prevails 2-0 thanks to the second consecutive goals from the Italian-Argentine Retegui and Pessina’s seal, both arrived in the first half.
Five minutes on the clock and the Azzurri immediately risked falling behind on the initiative of Satariano, who escaped between the lines launched by Mbong but kicked too centrally, being rejected by Donnarumma. After the first moments of the match played subdued and without bite, Italy shakes up and in the quarter of an hour they unlock thanks to the second consecutive goal from Retegui, good at detaching from Tonali’s corner by beating the goalkeeper for the 1-0 . The match completely changes face, in fact a dozen minutes pass and Mancini’s team doubles with Pessina, who deflects a low cross from Emerson slightly touched by Tonali in front of goal. In the half hour there would also be the great possibility of the blue three of a kind, but Grifo (who came on for the injured Gnonto) kicked Bonello from a few paces following an assist from Di Lorenzo.
In the second half the Azzurri quite easily controlled the double advantage and in the 69th minute came close once again to the third goal, this time with a bicycle kick attempt by the new substitute Scamacca which was neutralized by the goalkeeper.
Mancini half satisfied: “I did good things and others less so, the important thing was to win it”
«They are matches where you have everything to lose and they become bad matches. We did good things and some less, the important thing was to win it, we could have scored a few more goals but these then turn into bad matches. In these matches it is difficult to play, you have no spaces and you always have to get the most out of them to win them. We could have done better yes, almost everything». Coach Roberto Mancini said this to Rai microphones immediately after Italy’s 2-0 victory over Malta.
Retegui «unlocked the game, which was fundamental, of course he needs time, he still needs to know European football well, it takes time”. He added the blue coach Roberto Mancini.
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