England-Italy 0-0: Tonali misses the coup

by our correspondent Fabio Licari

June 11th
– WOLVERHAMPTON (Eng)

One really wonders why we are not at the World Cup and what the story would be if this Italy had entered the field earlier. After Argentina we look like another team and this 0-0 win against England is also almost a success. Better the Azzurri, protagonists of a first half in which they almost scored several times. Very well Pessina, Tonali, Locatelli and above all deb Gatti, the neo-Juventino defender we will hear about: he neutralized Abraham and then had no problems with Kane. If he always plays like this … But everyone is fine, with the usual Donnarumma who, however, gives shivers for an incomprehensibly cheerful use of his feet in the area. English with the usual fluffy Sterling, dragged along by Rice and an inexhaustible Grealish. With Germany stopped at 1-1 in Hungary we remain in the lead with 5 points in the Nations group, waiting for the away match of the Germans, before the holidays. With all the necessary warnings, because getting excited now is not legitimate, Italy is there. He needed to fall to rise again.

WHAT A SHOW

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Of course there is not the tension of a European final, like at Wembley a year ago, and playing openly is a first half of so many good chances that it is amazing how it ends at 0-0. Definitely better the Azzurri who leave possession to the English (56%) and also the touches, but with fewer balls they move much better, especially in the tight, with the cuts by Tonali from the left, the insertions of an inexhaustible Frattesi who plays as if fifty appearances and the push of Di Lorenzo finally old (and offensive) version. Just Frattesi is immediately shot in front of Ramsdale but, to place it, he touches the far post. It’s a show: Abraham almost takes advantage of Donnarumma’s “viziaccio” to play ball and chain, then Mount hits the crossbar, but Tonali’s chance will follow (a penalty in motion shot on the goalkeeper), Scamacca (high shot under the goal) , Pessina (paratissima), Locatelli (parade). A shame not to be ahead.

CATS-PESSINA-SHOW

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England has some absentees (Kane) but also some people in the third row, see Mount, who struggles to keep up with the pace even if he has great means. The same goes for Pellegrini, left striker, a little squeezed: perhaps it was better to keep him for Germany, here he has good times but he doesn’t help Dimarco behind him, and on the left we suffer a little from James’s initiative who almost pushes more than Sterling. The midfielder Frattesi-Locatelli-Tonali was very convincing, and Pessina’s tactical work was excellent, crushing Trippier. Scamacca is double-faced: on the banks, in the Dzeko-style game, he is truly a playmaker, but he feels little under the goal and is not sought by his team-mates. Notable Gatti, the eighth deb of this Nations: he sticks to Abraham with the personality of a veteran, marks, sweeps, contrasts and could stay in the group for a long time.

EQUILIBRIUM

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Claiming an equally intense second half is difficult, and in fact there are fewer opportunities, but Italy is still playing much better, with Pellegrini suddenly seeming fresher and dictating the most beautiful maneuvers, Dimarco finally pushing and Pessina really unstoppable. Trippier saves on Di Lorenzo, then with the changes – Esposito, 9th deb, and Gnonto for Locatelli and Pellegrini – we lower ourselves a little but we remain in control, while the newly entered Kane sends a good chance high. But if there was one team that deserved more, it was Italy.