In Como the Italians, with a reshuffled formation, did not go beyond a draw, but Soncin declared himself satisfied: “We could have done better, but let’s take the good from this match”. On Tuesday in Parma there will be the match against Brazil, then in November a double match against the United States away
After the glories of the summer and the arrival among the top four in Europe, the Azzurre’s journey starts again from Como and the 1-1 draw with Japan: in the heart of the second half, the former AC Milan player Hasegawa responds to the provisional advantage of Giada Greggi, who had celebrated (52′) after a right-footed shot from the double heel in the area by Severini and Girelli, left free to create in an evening with a non-transcendental competitive tone. Thus comes a valuable result in the first of the friendly matches (Brazil will be in Parma on Tuesday, then the United States away twice in November) organized to pave the way for the next mission: winning a place at the 2027 World Cup.
novelty’
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Having to deal with the many absences (Di Guglielmo, Giugliano and Caruso above all), Soncin experiments and leaves Salvai, the returning Dragoni and the “Americans” Cantore and Boattin on the bench. Ahead of Giuliani – 103 appearances, rewarded for reaching 100 at the European Championship – first as a starter for D’Auria, central protagonist in Lazio; Juventus player Schatzer plays as a point guard, while Alice Corelli’s debut paired with Girelli is an absolute debut. It was the debuting Roma striker who immediately broke the ice, forcing Yamashita to push into the corner (3′), but the early opportunity did not steer the game in favor of the Azzurre. Who still engage the goalkeeper with Girelli, but then end up entangled in the web of passes and quick movements of the Japanese, capable of taking control of the dribble by traveling at a high pace (among the 11 starters, 7 play in England – including the former Roma player Kumagai – and three in the United States, only one in their homeland). Obviously – otherwise they would be unplayable – Danish coach Nielsen’s girls live with the problem of the lack of malice in front of goal, where they pardon Giuliani before the break with Fujino and then with Seike’s dig.
question and answer
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Soncin goes down to the locker room a little displeased and evidently makes himself heard, because Italy returns to the field more reactive and breaks the balance after 7′ with the already described quality action completed by Greggi. Joy which, however, does not last long, as Hasegawa (64′) finds the equalizer with a close-range lob that goes over Giuliani, a little too far ahead of the goal line. The last 20 minutes are physiologically diluted by the substitutions, with Soncin also giving debuts to Monnecchi (Lazio), Tomaselli (Inter) and Nischler (Como Women). And in the end it ends with a fair result, because Japan in the first half would not have deserved to lose.
SATISFIED
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“A result that satisfies me – the immediate comment of the Italian coach -, especially for the many good responses from the debutants who confirm to me a positive expansion of the squad. We went in alternating phases, but this also depended on the quality of the opponents to which we had to adapt. We could have done better after the lead, but let’s take the good and prepare for a completely different match that awaits us on Tuesday against Brazil”..
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