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There was an Azzurri connection stretching from Paris to La Nucía. After Roberto Mancini’s senior side drew 1-1 with France last night on Matchday 3 of Nations League A Group 1, Carmine Nunziata’s Under-20s followed up with a win of their own against Les Bleus. On the final day of the international tournament in Spain, the Azzurrini ran out 3-0 winners at the Estadio Olímpico ‘Camilo Cano’, finishing the competition in third place on three points, ahead of France.
Italy broke the deadlock in the 31st minute when 2007-born Inter striker Matteo Lavelli won a penalty, which Emanuele Rao, a 2006-born Napoli forward currently on loan at Bari, calmly converted. Lapo Siviero then took centre stage on the stroke of half-time. The 2006-born Torino goalkeeper saved Tadjidine Mmadi’s penalty to preserve Italy’s lead, denying the 2007-born Marseille winger of French-Comorian descent. The Azzurrini struck again after the break, with 2007-born Inter forward Mattia Mosconi doubling the advantage in the 59th minute. Then, in the first minute of added time, Giacomo De Pieri, the Inter attacking midfielder on loan at Ascoli, added a third to put the seal on a convincing victory.
“Beyond the positive result, which we are obviously pleased with, I’m happy because today we looked more like a team than we did in the previous matches,” said the Italy coach. “Over these three games, we gave every player in the squad the chance to show what they can do. That allowed us to make our assessments, because we mustn’t forget that our aim is to help as many players as possible progress to the Under-21s and the senior national team. It also gave valuable playing time to those who have not been featuring as regularly for their clubs. The result is certainly important, but it is just as important for these players to gain experiences like this as part of their development.”
THE MATCH. Italy lined up in a 4-3-1-2, with Siviero in goal; captain Amey, Mirra, Verde and Cama in defence; Di Nunzio, Sala and Mout in midfield; and Coletta operating behind the front two of Lavelli and Rao. France set up in a 4-4-2, with Stawiecki between the posts; Dodote, Kamara, Muzungu and Lucea across the back; El Jamali, captain Courcoul, Devernois and Ndjantou in midfield; and Mmadi partnering Merah up front.
The Azzurrini made a bright start, although France created the first opening of the game in the eighth minute, when El Jamali tried his luck from distance and Siviero made a comfortable save. Nunziata’s side responded on the quarter-hour mark, with Rao beating his man before forcing Stawiecki to turn the ball behind for a corner. The intensity increased as the half wore on and, in the 31st minute, Italy found the breakthrough. Muzungu brought down Lavelli inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Rao stepped up and calmly sent the France goalkeeper the wrong way with a precise low right-footed finish. Boosted by the goal, the Azzurrini almost doubled their lead three minutes later, again through Rao, whose effort from a good position flew narrowly wide of the left-hand post. France responded in the 37th minute through El Jamali, who cut in from the left before shooting straight at Siviero. Italy threatened again in the 43rd minute, when Coletta’s close-range effort was kept out by a sharp save from Stawiecki. A minute later, Sala also tried his luck from distance but failed to hit the target. There was still time for one final twist before the break. Amey brought down Ndjantou inside the area and, just as he had done at the other end earlier in the half, the referee awarded a penalty. Mmadi stepped up, but Siviero guessed correctly and produced an excellent save to preserve Italy’s lead. The Azzurrini therefore went into half-time 1-0 up.
France made a couple of changes at the start of the second half, but the Azzurrini remained compact and doubled their lead in the 59th minute. Mosconi, who had replaced Lavelli just a minute earlier, made an immediate impact, finishing right-footed past Stawiecki after being picked out by De Pieri, himself introduced moments earlier in place of Coletta. The second goal took the wind out of France, while Nunziata’s side continued to grow in confidence and push higher up the pitch. In the 73rd minute, Italy created two more chances in quick succession through substitutes Pafundi and Mannini, but Stawiecki was equal to both right-footed efforts. France offered a late response through Tape, whose long-range attempt in the 89th minute failed to trouble Siviero. Then, in the first of three added minutes, De Pieri raced down the right and cut inside before sealing the win with a left-footed finish to make it 3-0. It was the perfect end to the La Nucía Under-20 International Tournament for the Azzurrini, who signed off with a deserved and convincing victory.
La Nucía International Tournament
Single group: France, Germany, England, ITALY
Matchday 1 (Friday 25 September)
ITALY 1-3 England
Germany 1-0 France
Matchday 2 (Tuesday 29 September)
France 1-2 England
Germany 3-0 ITALY
Matchday 3 (Saturday 3 October)
France 0-3 ITALY
17:30: England vs. Germany, Estadio Olímpico ‘Camilo Cano’
Standings: Germany 6 (+4), England 6 (+3), ITALY 3, France 0