PHOTO
Italy’s senior side beat France 3-1 at San Siro last night. Today, the Under-21s followed up with a 2-1 win in Laval, where goals from Camarda and Lipani capped two days of convincing victories over formidable French opposition. Italy’s fans had another 90 minutes to applaud. The Azzurrini played with quality, intensity and purpose, looking every bit a team in Silvio Baldini’s image. Italy return to Tirrenia tomorrow to prepare for Monday’s 18:15 CET kick-off against Belgium.
BALDINI. “I’ve always said this is a strong squad,” said Silvio Baldini after the match. “We have plenty of good players in the senior team, and there’s real quality in this group too. We showed that quality and played with heart. That makes winning even sweeter. We have to focus on ourselves. What matters is the desire to win, to fight and to compete in every duel. You know you might lose. You still have to give it a go, play fair and show courage.”
On Camarda, he added, “He’s going through a difficult time mentally. He’s a sensitive lad and a great player. There’s pressure at this level. He deserved that goal, and I keep telling him how good he is because it’s true.”
THE MATCH. As he had indicated at his press conference, Baldini stuck with his usual 4-3-3, with Amatucci as the playmaker and Camarda leading the line. The Azzurrini started brightly, pinning France in their own box with a succession of corners and repeatedly winning the ball back high up the pitch. The first clear chance came in the twelfth minute after another recovery in the final third. Camarda rolled the ball with the sole of his boot and Patouillet saved Cacciamani’s left-footed shot. From the resulting corner, Amatucci sent a fine volley just past the angle of post and bar.
France responded through Gomis, who nutmegged Mane before curling a shot over the bar. The hosts began to push further up the pitch, and Italy showed they could defend well in a low block too. There was little between the sides before Italy pressed high again in the 38th minute. Dagasso won the ball back and slipped it through to Cacciamani. Camarda stretched to meet the cutback and sent his shot inches wide. In the final minute of the half, Ugochukwu forced Palmisani into his first save of the match.
SECOND HALF
France came out strongly after a goalless first half and had their best chance five minutes after the restart. Gomis looked certain to score from the middle of the box, and it took a last-ditch sliding block from Bartesaghi to keep out his left-footed shot. Italy struck on the counter three minutes later. Dagasso burst forward and threaded a pass into Camarda’s path. The striker slotted it past Patouillet to make it 1-0.
Just as Italy looked to be taking control, France drew level in the 61st minute. Versini was picked out wide behind Bartesaghi and beat Palmisani with a fine lob after the goalkeeper had started to come off his line. Baldini’s players showed their maturity by keeping their composure. When Italy won the ball back high up the pitch again, captain Lipani took matters into his own hands and placed a right-footed shot into the corner, giving Patouillet no chance.
By the 70th minute, then, Italy were back in front. Baldini made five changes in two batches, bringing on Faticanti, Berti, Cherubini, Ekhator and Under-21 debutant Inacio. With ten minutes to go, Ngoura broke through from what looked like an offside position and somehow fired wide with only Palmisani to beat. The Italy goalkeeper then made a flying save from Mbappé’s late free kick to deny France an equaliser.
FRANCE 1-2 ITALY (HT 0-0)
France (4-4-2): Patouillet; Belocian, Koudou (39’ Canvot), Diawara (39’ Methalie), Gadou; Danois (65’ Atangana), Coulibaly, Ugochukwu, Versini (65’ Mbappé); Bahoya (65’ Ngoura), Gomis.
Unused substitutes: Tabibou, Kone, Zeze, Toure, Bamba, Lebreton, Olmeta.
Head coach: Baticle.
Italy (4-3-3): Palmisani; Mane (85’ Kouadio), Chiarodia, Comuzzo, Bartesaghi; Lipani (85’ Zeroli), Amatucci (62’ Faticanti), Dagasso (71’ Berti); Fini (71’ Cherubini), Camarda (62’ Ekhator), Cacciamani (62’ Inacio).
Unused substitutes: Lulli, D’Uffizi, Mascardi, Mannini, Moruzzi, Pessina, Daffara.
Head coach: Baldini.
Goals: 53’ Camarda (ITA), 61’ Versini (FRA), 69’ Lipani (ITA).
Referee: Ricardo De Burgos Bengoechea (Spain).
Assistant referees: Igor Grijalba and Asier Perez (Spain).
Fourth official: Isidro Diaz (Spain).
Attendance: 6,000.
