Nine goals and many (too many) chills. The blues suffer, risk saying goodbye to the world dream but in the end here are the three points and the hook to Israel (who has one more game) in the standings

By our correspondent Andrea Ramazzotti

8 September 2025 (edit 9 September 2025 | 01:30) – Debracen (Hungary)

A crazy Italy, with a Colabrodo defense and a wrong initial attitude, beats Israel 5-4 and remains in the running for the first place in the group. Tomorrow evening Norway in all probability will extend again because it has the “tender” Moldova in front of the house, but now we are second, on an equal footing with the team of Ben Shimon that from 1970 onwards we had always beaten. We take the three points with unheard of suffering and risking hurting us with our hands. Because we are wrong from the waist up and give two headlines. The goals of Kean, author of a splendid brace, Politano, Raspadori and above all tonals, the one who marks the pyrotechnic 5-4 after we had granted to the Israelis the comeback from 4-2 to 4-4 in two minutes, from 87 ‘to 89’. Do not believe it … in short, a crazy race, even without logic in some respects, but for sure we are still alive in the race for the primacy in the group. And we have a big heart because after 4-4 we try until the end. Gattuso makes six points in the first two meetings and finds the couple “the right of attackers: Kean-Retegui. Not bad as a business card after the first two challenges from CT.

blue blue

In a semi -deserted stadium, with just 2,300 spectators in spite of the 20,000 seats, Israel plays with mourning to the arm to remember the victims of the terrorist attack (claimed by Hamas) of Jerusalem. Ben Shimon deployed 3-4-2-1, but in reality behind our opponents they close to five and leave no one forward; in the possession, however, the false nueve Gloukh goes back and is often replaced by Dor Peretz, but the key element is Biton who starts from the right and sends the Azzurri to tilt. Gattuso instead focuses on a 4-4-2 which compared to Friday has two variations: inside Mancini in the center of the defense (outside Calafiori), via an offensive outside (the injured Zaccagni) and on the field an extra central midfielder (Locatelli); In attack the two ends and Kean confirms. Physically we are superior and also from a technical point of view and international experience we have much more, but the approach to the meeting is not the right one and we pay duty with a bad start in which the Israelis put us in crisis. Our module is unbalanced because we do not have a left-handed left outside (in 4-4-2) and because when we attack, with the 4-3-3, there is no one wide on the left out. Israel takes advantage of it to dribble, with safety and personality, changing play and inserting himself among the spaces created by the constant movement of offensive players. Maybe we didn’t expect them so courageous. Certainly we make mistakes not seen against Estonia, even when the score was 0-0. And so when in the quarter of an hour the formation of Ben Shimon passes ahead thanks to an Locatelli of Locatelli on Baton’s cross (lost by tonals), nobody can say anything: Israel deserves for construction and attitude. Indeed, he could have scored first with a rescue of sticks on Biton and with an autonote by Donnarumma, on the corner of Solomon, deleted by a foul on our Lemkin goalkeeper. Israel attacks the space and we, without covering on the left, suffer terribly. Tactical question, but also of spirit, different from that of Bergamo, rhythm and attention. Italy has a first jolly with a shot of staggers diverted by Nachmias in the corner, then the crossbar of Locatelli arrives on the bank of their stens and the conclusion on Kean’s bottom on Mancini’s cross. Gattuso a bit his and the Azzurri a little grows: a diagonal of tonals touches the net that instead finds Kean, on the launch of a stretcher for staggers that operates the former viola, relentlessly with his right. Before returning to the changing rooms, Biton still tries, but Donnarumma is there. At the interval we have a greater possession (58%) and more shots (7-4), but we have framed the door only on the occasion of the 1-1 network.

crazy Italy

The recovery still begins with a good Italy and a very high recovery of tonals allows Locatelli to serve Kean who shoots a safe blow: Peretz makes a miracle. The blue advantage seems in the air and instead to score is Israel: Somolon disoriently disoriently accelerate, accelerates on Locatelli and centers for Dor Peretz, free between Mancini and Bastoni. Another gigantic mistake of our defense. Gattuso screams and incites his to react immediately and fortunately a handful of seconds after their 2-1, on a long throw of Dimarco touched by attributes, Kean invented the 2-2 shot, with a disoriented shlomo. For Moise Tenth Center with Italy. They are wrong behind how and more than us and in fact five minutes after the par, on the assists of stensions, Politano carries on our national team (3-2). Ben Shimon has to change and insert in one fell swoop Baribo, Jehezkel and Mizrahi to move on to 4-2-3-1 with the center forward and Dor Peretz midfielder more than a mezzala; Gattuso responds with Frattesi and Orsolini for Barella and Politano. Tactically the form remains the 4-4-2, but the intent is to have fresh forces. Head -of -headed doors cannot put a nice Dimarco cross on the net. We risk on a cross by Solomon deflected by Di Lorenzo and rejected by Donnarumma, on a shot from outside Eliel Peretz, then Locatelli saves almost on the line and Donnarumma avoids the 3-3. Four gigantic occasions for Israelis. Gattuso makes two more decisive substitutions: inside Cambiaso and Raspadori and here is the 4-2 of “Raspa” on the assist of Frattesi, with Cambiaso that recovers the ball and tonals that puts the foot in the action. Also this time the former Naples is centering shortly after entering the field. As against Estonia. Finished? Not even for dream because behind we make another gross error and sticks, he packs the 4-3 motorway station on reviven cross. We want to check, with Maldini inside for stagusts, and instead with another defensive closet we grant the 4-4 to Dor Peretz, lost by tonals on the air bank of Jehezkel. Italy seems to sink into the abyss, but in the recovery he saves us tonals he receives from Cambiaso and with a pitch-Cross he does 5-4. Crazy! After 8 minutes of recovery, we are still running for first place, but what suffering.



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