The two goals in the first half, first the Italian-Argentine and then Pessina, then the Azzurri administered without worries. Injury in Gnonto. In September the next qualifying matches with North Macedonia and Ukraine
No triumphalism, but at least Italy makes Italy, shakes up the standings (while England flies), gains some confidence and perhaps has finally found a centre-forward: Retegui, again, puts it in with the first ball, head, corner. The problem is that he doesn’t get many others and Mancini will have to work on this, but at least there is a 9 who has the goal in his head and travels at an average of one center per game. Only Chinaglia, Enrico Chiesa and Orsolini have scored twice in the first two in blue. The 2-0 is from Pessina, perhaps the best, always in maneuvering, lucid, offensive. Italy did well in the first half, at a slow pace in the second, but two risks are too many against Malta which is several categories below. On the other hand, eight substitutions aren’t assimilated in one second, but at least we saw a different Italy with other weapons, more runs, less dribbling. All, of course, to be re-examined with a very different opponent. So, calm down.
HOW SCARY
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At least the first half from Italy, however, cheers us up. He doesn’t know what, the opponent doesn’t allow definitive judgments, but there is the will to impose himself right away, even if the Maltese barricade prevents him from going to shoot. But it all starts with a great shiver, after less than five minutes. And what a thrill. Mbong, very active but imprecise, wins the ball wide to the right and invents a deep diagonal that jumps Romagnoli and reaches Satariano very fast: Donnarumma’s save is a small masterpiece that spares us another humiliation and opens a new game. From now on there is only, or almost, Italy.
RETEGUI-PESSINA
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Eight changes are not a joke but they were necessary, indeed they amplify the regret for an initial formation of Naples that can certainly be reviewed. Behind there is only Di Lorenzo with the new Scalvini, Romagnoli and Emerson. Unedited midfield Tonali-Cristante-Pessina. Up front, as announced, Retegui between Politano and Gnonto which lasts however lasts about twenty minutes: you could see a precarious balance in the first plays, at a certain point the blue collapses to make room for Grifo who brings liveliness. But Italy is already in the lead because, from a corner by Tonali – after a good shot by Romagnoli – the usual Retegui headed the 1-0. Two shots on goal and two goals, we have a center forward but we don’t serve him very much. The fault of the team but also a bit of him who is used to moving on the whole front of attack and here he is a bit forced in the centre. He’s struggling to get out of the way, the 3-5-2 would be more useful but he’ll have to adapt. But there is, as is Pessina who attacks play Guillaumier and attempts the raid. At half an hour he is there in the area, in the scrum, very quick to touch Emerson’s cross from the left: 2-0.
THINGS FROM ITALY
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You see interesting things. Even if Cristante is very far from the Jorginho model, it allows Mancio to re-propose the Euro 3-2-5 3-2-5 in the offensive phase, a sort of WM with Emerson tall, a quadrilateral in midfield (Tonali and Cristante behind, Pessina and Grifo in front) and three points. Less embroideries, because Verratti’s feet aren’t there, but more pressing and depth. Not even Politano is Chiesa, but he makes himself very useful as a classic winger who sinks, returns and crosses or enters. He served in Naples. Grifo fails to make it 3-0 by shooting at the goalkeeper and it is in fact the only opportunity until Scamacca’s splendid bicycle kick towards the half hour of the second half. The West Ham striker replaces Retegui and shows good movements as a backward centre-forward and a lot of desire. Competition is good. Bonello, the Maltese goalkeeper, is the best of him.
THREE POINTS
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But Italy has now lowered the pace, almost settling for it, while Malta is compacted with ten men behind and is only trying to restart. He has an opportunity, with the ball bouncing in a furious scrum in the area, but in the end Donnarumma closes the practice. In the final Mbong has his blow deflected in front of our goal. There have been better Azzurri finals, but we needed the three points and for now let’s be satisfied.
March 26, 2023 (change March 26, 2023 | 22:48)
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