Italy-Israel 3-0: brace from Retegui and goal from Mancini. We’re in the playoffs

Barring an unthinkable miracle from Estonia on Norway’s pitch in November (draw or victory for Henn’s team) and another six points from the Azzurri against Moldova and Norway, we will play for qualification for the World Cup in the playoffs next March. The victory against Israel in Udine was given to us by Mateo Retegui’s brace: it was the number 9 who gave us second place in the group, complete with access to the play-offs. A goal that Gattuso achieved thanks to four successes in a row (sixteen goals scored) since he sat on the Azzurri bench: it was impossible to start better for the coach. Beyond the value of the Israelis, keeping your head solely on the match was complicated. The peaceful afternoon procession in the city center, when the teams are about to enter the field, turns into long clashes between troublemakers and the police. An urban guerrilla climate which, despite being far from the stadium, somewhat influences the approach to the challenge. Ditto the anything but warm atmosphere in a stadium with just ten thousand spectators. We therefore thank Retegui, who was strongly wanted in the national team by Roberto Mancini and who reached 11 goals with the blue shirt. First the 1-0 penalty, won and converted, then the second goal with a great right-footed shot into the top corner after recovering the ball. In the showcase together with the former Atalanta center forward, however, it is right to put Donnarumma and his two miraculous saves. The captain, who made the mistake on the 3-1 goal in Tallinn, responds like a champion this time and saves us. We will experience the last two matches of the group against Moldova and Norway in a more calm state of mind.

Italy-Israel, what thrills

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Compared to Saturday’s match in Tallinn, Gattuso changes formation (from 4-2-4 to 3-5-2) and three men (in Mancini, Locatelli and Cambiaso for the suspended Bastoni, the injured Kean and Orsolini). Up front, next to Retegui, room for Raspadori and not Pio Esposito. This time Italy doesn’t go all on the attack and their pressure is less effective because Israel is of a different mix than Estonia: Ben Shimon deploys a 4-3-1-2 in which Gloukh has great freedom of movement, while Solomon and Baribo take turns attacking. It’s not an Italian monologue like against the Estonians and in fact we struggle to keep the ball, to circulate it, to finish in a dangerous way. In the first half it is the Israelis who have the most important opportunities: they have quality, they dribble well and invite their opponents to press the opponent to make them stretch and then hit them on the restart. A shot just wide from Gloukh, assisted by Khalaili, made Gattuso tremble and he then had to thank Donnarumma for a great intervention on Solomon, at the end of an action developed by Gloukh and Baribo. And Italy? It can be seen with a cannon shot to the back by Cambiaso, after a decent team maneuver at speed, and with a central conclusion, from outside, by Tonali. The first half seems destined to end at 0-0 and instead Baltaxa, who until then had been good at blocking Retegui, naively hits the Italian-Argentine in the area who anticipates him: a clear foul and a penalty for the Azzurri. Mateo, who had missed from eleven meters in Tallinn, takes the ball without hesitation, kisses it, puts it on the spot and scores the 1-0 with which the national team returns to the locker room.

left-handed and left-handed

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The second half began with Pio Esposito replacing Raspadori, not brilliant as a second striker and unable to be found between the lines. Gattuso returns to the two “big” attackers and the Inter player works well, making the team move up. A volley from Barella ends up just off target, but it is Israel who comes closest to scoring with a shot from Gloukh, freed by an assist from Baribo and a previous error from Di Lorenzo. Donnarumma makes it clear why he was the best goalkeeper in the last Champions League and his intervention is worth a goal scored. It’s the last thrill for the Azzurri who find the second goal with Retegui, superb in stealing the ball from Toriel, who has just entered, and in putting the ball into the top corner with a splendid curling conclusion from the edge. The three points are safe and Pio Esposito is denied by Glazer to make it 3-0. It’s a shame because after the goal in Tallinn, the Nerazzurri would have deserved another personal joy for how he entered. He will have time to redeem himself. On the other hand, Mancini scored, heading in a great cross from Dimarco, and Cambiaghi and Piccoli made their debuts for Italy. Now head to the playoffs.