The three Italians are the only ones from the current Italian group to have taken to the pitch, at the “Bilino Polje”, on the evening of 15 November 2019. And here’s how it went
“Bilino Polje” can be translated like this: “White or clean field”. On Tuesday evening, that’s where Rino Gattuso’s Azzurri will have to not only see America, but put their foot in it: 90′, perhaps more, without appeal. No athletics track, buildings in the background, typical buildings of an industrial city chosen as the place where the Bosnian national team measures its strength: they call it the fort, in reality it is not for its unbeaten record, but for the climate that the fans manage to create. Climate and environment that our “senators” know well, and it is not a bad memory: November 2019, Roberto Mancini’s Italy wins with little trouble 3-0. Gallo Belotti, Acerbi and Insigne scored in a match that offers points for the European Championship which, two seasons from now, will be ours on the night of Wembley.
courses and appeals
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Who was there then and will be there Tuesday? Donnarumma in goal, Tonali and Barella in the heart of the game: it is no small detail now that the anticipation is at a fever pitch and that in and around Zenica and the surrounding areas they are waiting for us with the decibels at a thousand in light also of the unwelcome celebration of Vicario, Dimarco and Pio Esposito in the moment in which Wales disappeared from our street, on penalties, to give the Bosnians the green light. The “Bilino Polje” can accommodate no more than 15,600 spectators and will host 15,600 spectators: tickets sold out during the night as announced by the Sarajevo federation itself. Bosnia has already taken the stand, or rather taken to the streets: horns and chants took over in the hours after qualifying for the playoff final against us. They, the Bosnians, have not been to the World Cup since 2014, same fate as Italy: for them, however, twelve years ago was the first and only appearance among the great national teams in the world. “Bilino Polje” means “White or clean field”: Donnarumma, Tonali and Barella will have to dig out of their memories on the evening of 15 November 2019 and tell their teammates what awaits them. Cristiano Ronaldo complained about the pitch not being in perfect condition (euphemism).
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