European Under 19: Italy-Slovakia 1-0, Ambrosino, near semifinal

The first mission is accomplished. With the 1-0 to Slovakia, the Under 19 national team is in the semifinals of the European Championship and qualified for the Under 20 World Cup scheduled for next year in Indonesia. Arithmetic certainty arrived in the evening, with France’s 2-1 victory over Romania, beaten last Saturday by the Italian team on their debut. The direct clash on Friday against the French, on the other hand, will decide the classification of Group A and the crossings for the semifinals on Tuesday 28 (the final will be played on Friday 1 July): Italy, behind in the goal difference (+2 against the +6 of the Bleus), to get there first he will only have to win.

There is Miretti

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In Trnava, compared to the first match, Nunziata confirmed ten elevenths of the starting line-up but recovered the star of the team, Fabio Miretti, who had to serve a disqualification against Romania. The Juventus player, in the trocar behind Ambrosino and Nasti, was the first to scare the Slovaks on 26 ‘: after a great action all first, the number 10 hit the crossbar in full. Same fate for another right-footed shot, that of Ambrosino. In between, there is also a chance for Nasti, well served by Casadei. After a start in which Slovakia had managed to keep a good pace, Italy took the lead with the top scorer of the last Primavera championship: Miretti’s no-look assist for Ambrosino and the Napoli striker’s left-footed goal.

Recovery

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The theme of the match did not change even in the second half, with the very low Slovaks who left the game to Italy hoping to find spaces on the counterattack. At fifteen minutes, Nunziata sent Volpato (match winner against Romania) on the field in place of Ambrosino; a few minutes later, an opportunity for Casadei, but the best player of the Primavera finals just kicked out. Nasti’s header was also inaccurate in the 77th minute, with Italy who, after dominating the game, risked being equalized: on Micuda’s cross from the right, Jambor’s header called Desplanches in a big way parade. It was the only thrill of an unexciting and so angular recovery, but the important thing was to win.