(PRIMASPORT) PARIGI – L’Italia ottiene un pareggio di grande valore a Parigi, confermando un assetto tattico che funziona e di poter contare sul migliore portiere del mondo. Nell’1-1 allo Stade de France grandi protagonisti Gigi Donnarumma, con cinque parate prodigiose, e Alessandro Bastoni, che con un inserimento centrale riequilibra le sorti dopo la perla su punizione di Olise e firma il secondo gol consecutivo in maglia azzurra. Il risultato è merito di tutta la squadra messa in campo da Roberto Mancini. L’Italia mette in campo la personalità, la lucidità e lo sforzo collettivo per impedire alla Francia di tradurre in minaccia offensiva le straordinarie qualità dei suoi giocatori. Succede così che nel primo tempo gli azzurri costruiscano due limpide occasioni da rete, sfiorando il vantaggio con Kean e Frattesi, reggendo la forza d’urto dei transalpini al punto che non entrano nelle tabelline parate di Donnarumma. Il numero uno azzurro è subito protagonista a inizio ripresa con parate prodigiose, salvo arrendersi a un’esecuzione magistrale di Olise su calcio di punizione. Nel gioco dei cambi, con il debuttante Vergara, l’Italia trova la profondità necessaria ad attaccare la difesa francese, presa in contropiede da Bastoni in proiezione offensiva. Dopo Kayode, un’altra carta vincente a disposizione del ct. Avere limitato la Francia è un altro importante passo in avanti nel percorso di crescita della nostra Nazionale, ancora più convincente che gli azzurri abbiano provato a vincerla.
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Only two changes to the Italian national team compared to the victorious trip to Turkey. Calafiori replaces Ruggeri at left back, while Kean replaces Raspadori, who returned to Bergamo following an injury. The midfield, consisting of Frattesi, Fagioli, and Tonali, along with the two Esposito brothers, remains unchanged, as do central defenders Scalvini and Bastoni and right back Kayode. This will be Zidane's first home match as coach, in the stadium where he scored a brace in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil that gave France their first title. France, with Mbappé unavailable, will attack with Olise, Dembélé, and Doué.
The Azzurri were initially held captive by the French players, who applied high pressure. But after eight minutes, on their first outing in the French half, Italy came close to taking the lead with a switch of sides that allowed Sebastiano Esposito to attack the depth and facilitate Kayode's run. Kean misplaced a low cross, allowing Maignan to save by diving into the corner. Roberto Mancini's team gained confidence and measured their play, effectively containing the French play. In the 23rd minute, Olise's cross was deflected by Tonali, with the ball hitting the top of the crossbar. After half an hour, the Azzurri were back in the opposition box, but France was always ready to counterattack, requiring defensive moves. The Italian defense was effective. In the 40th minute, Kayode's throw-in was connected and played by Pio Esposito to Frattesi, who fired home first-time. Maignan was out of action, but France saved with a fortunate deflection off Jacquet.
The start of the second half saw France push forward, with Donnarumma a key player. In the third minute, the Italian striker saved Doué's right-footed effort from outside the box, then thwarted Dembélé's attempted tap-in. Two minutes later, Olise made another miracle save. In the 10th minute, Fagioli fouled Cherki on the edge of the box and was booked. Olise was relentless with the free kick, exemplarily executed, the ball hitting the top corner and into the back of the net. It was unstoppable, even for someone like Donnarumma. In the 17th minute, Roberto Mancini brought on Tonali and Pio Esposito to bring on Barella and Vergara, who made his debut with Kean moved to a central position. Italy played more open football and were rewarded. In the 68th minute, Vergara burst through and engaged in a duel with Upamecano, who prevailed, but during the clearing between Rabiot and Da Cunha, Bastoni moved centrally, advanced, and placed the ball past Maignan. Donnarumma barely had time to celebrate before having to stretch to deflect a vicious diagonal shot from Rabiot. In the 32nd minute, Zidane also made a change of bench. Barcola and Camavinga came on for Cherki and Doué. Immediately afterward, Roberto Mancini replaced Sebastiano Esposito and Frattesi with Maldini and Doumbia. In the 36th minute, Vergara played a soft ball into the box, Kean rose to the top, and Maignan had to bend over to tip the ball over the crossbar. France responded in the 39th minute with a powerful shot from Camavinga, which Donnarumma pulled off a flying save. A minute later, Upamecano, already booked, held Kean back and was sent off. Zidane brought on Da Cunha and sent on Lacroix. In the 43rd minute, Vergara made a great pass in the center of the box, Barella pounced, but the ball went over. At the end, Scamacca came on for Fagioli. Donnarumma pulled off yet another extraordinary save. Italy finished ahead and earned a crucial point for the Nations League.
FRANCE-ITALY 1-1
FRANCE (4-3-3): Maignan 6 Kalulu 6 Jacquet 6.5 Upamecano 5 Truffert 6 Cherki 6.5 (32' st Camavinga 6) Da Cunha 5.5 (42' st Lacroix sv) Rabiot 6 Olise 7.5 O. Dembélé 6.5 Doué 6 (32' st Barcola 6). Available: Restes, Butez, Koundé, Koné, Diouf, Yoro, Akliouche, Lepaul. Coach: Zinédine Zidane.
ITALY (4-3-3): Donnarumma 8.5 Kayode 7 Scalvini 7 Bastoni 7.5 Calafiori 6 Frattesi 6.5 (34' st Doumbia 6) Fagioli 6.5 (44' st Scamacca sv) Tonali 6 (17' st Barella 6) S. Esposito 6.5 (34' st Maldini 6) Pio Esposito 6 (17' st Vergara 7) Kean 6.5. Subs: Carnesecchi, Vicario, Ruggeri, Ricci, Scamacca, Zoma, Doumbia, Maldini, Di Lorenzo, G. Mancini. Coach: Roberto Mancini.
Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano 6.5 Assistants: Guadalupe Porras Ayuso and Raul Cabanero Fourth official: Juan Martinez Munuera. VAR: Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez – Avar: Valentin Gomez.
Goalscorers: st 10' Olise 23' Bastoni
Yellow cards: Fagioli, Kean, Upamecano, Vergara, Bastoni. Upamecano sent off in the 40th minute of the second half for a second yellow card.
Recupero: 0, 4 (PRIMASPORT)