Bastoni, Barella, Dimarco, Frattesi: the Nerazzurri block works less well in Italy

“Once upon a time there was the Nerazzurri block”, he will tell himself in a low voice, thinking back to the Zenica stadium, the missed penalties, the fireworks on the balconies. Someone may object more clearly: “Has there ever been?”. The exit from the World Cup – the third in a row, again in the playoffs – was a sort of sporting Caporetto, but perhaps the ones who came out worse were the Inter players: Bastoni, Dimarco, Esposito, Frattesi and also Barella. Anxiety and fear, avoidable gestures and bad mistakes that cost the World Cup.

sticks: what a nightmare

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Bastoni’s last month and a half has been a sporting nightmare. First the simulation against Juve, then the admission of guilt before Bodo and the elimination from the Champions League, followed by the whistles received in Lecce and Como and finally the defeat against Italy. The biggest blow. That last man expulsion in the first half which compromised the Azzurri’s progress. In between, the shameful insults on social media under his profile and that of his wife. Episodes to be condemned in full. Despite the bad moment, however, the mistake against Bosnia was obvious, decisive, loud, one that will be talked about for life, costing them the third World Cup in a row. Since he wore the Nerazzurri shirt, Bastoni has played 43 matches for the national team, scoring three goals. He won Euro 2021 as a reserve – zero appearances, Bonucci and Chiellini were up front – and scored a goal at Euro 2024. Before Zenica he had never received a direct red card.

stretcher and dimarco

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Barella and Frattesi also ended up in the meat grinder. The first, despite the assist for Kean’s goal, decreased as the minutes passed. The best Nicolò hasn’t been seen for a long time now. Frattesi, however, once decisive especially with Italy, ended up making the bench even more. He has only started seven of the last ten matches for the national team, while between June 2023 and October 2024 he had scored eight goals in 18 appearances (of which 12 from the start). Not bad for someone who has always been a reserve at the Nerazzurri, first with Inzaghi and now with Chivu. Against Bosnia he touched nine balls in 35 minutes, never kicked on goal and didn’t create a single chance. It’s been like this for a long time now. In Serie A he has only started two games in the last 12. Alibi? One: the performance was affected by physical problems. The quartet concludes with Federico Dimarco, who in the national team is a distant relative of the full-back winger capable of churning out goals and assists around Italy. This year he already has six goals and 15 successful passes. In blue, however, he scored only three times in 38 games. Better with assists: nine. Including four in a row between Estonia and Norway. Without forgetting the post-penalty celebration of Wales-Bosnia which ended up burdening their opponents even more in the playoff final.

the future: exposed

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The missed penalty against Bosnia was a boulder for the Italians’ hopes of qualifying for the World Cup, perhaps decisive. But this mistake erases Esposito’s path, already with three goals in seven appearances for the blue team. Six of these as a substitute. So far it has hit Israel, Moldova and Norway. Against Bosnia he handled several balls and held his own in a difficult context, before kicking the first penalty of the cursed series to the stars. At twenty he was called to kick a penalty first in a difficult context: high ball, but he will do it again. In 2030 he will be 25 years old. It’s logical to think that the future will be his.