The Italy Under 21 coach after the poker against Sweden: “The group is cohesive, happy to be together and also full of talent”
This evening’s victory for Italy has a lot of Silvio Baldini behind it, as it dominates Sweden in the qualifiers for the next Under 21 European Championship to remain with full points. But regardless of the result (4-0) it was the spirit of the Azzurrini that surprised: a team that was united as well as strong, as demonstrated by the episode of the penalty kick with which Berti ended the match. Pafundi goes from the spot but then leaves the ball to the Cesena talent and home idol, to the satisfaction of the coach: “That gesture is proof that this is a cohesive group, happy to be together, who like to laugh and joke but who also know how to work. It’s a gesture that fills me with joy more than the 4-0 victory.”
From one penalty to another, Baldini also commented on Camarda’s choice to shoot from the spot with the spoon, on the occasion of the 2-0 goal: “Everyone is free to kick as they want, even if I hate those penalties! But if someone feels like it, it’s right that he does so”. And on the team: “It’s a group full of talent, a talent that however must be cultivated with work and with the head: that’s what makes the difference. I don’t put pressure on them, I explain the game to them and then they go on the pitch to show that they are good.” No sooner said than done.