Italy-Sweden 0-1: the Italians fight but have to surrender to Angeldahl’s goal

Andrea Soncin’s Italy’s journey towards the 2027 Brazilian World Cup begins uphill. Sweden narrowly passes in Reggio Calabria, able to capitalize on a less-than-brilliant first half by the Azzurri. Given the reaction of the second half, however, a draw would have been right. One fact remains: from 2023 to today, in five matches, we have never beaten the Swedes.

continuity

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Italy, which after the European Championship went a bit empty in the friendlies (drawing with Japan, losing against Brazil and twice against the United States), starts from old certainties: on the pitch there are 9 out of 11 starters from the European semi-final lost against England, the starting system changes (from 3-5-2 to 4-3-3) but it is not a revolution. Soncin, in his management, has accustomed his girls to changing clothes inspired by the characteristics of their opponents. Sweden, on the other hand, with the new coach Gustavsson (disqualified, in the stands at the Granillo), has started a process of rejuvenation after the European Championship ended in the quarter-finals (but only on penalties, against the English) and the Nations League semi-finals lost to Spain. Due to the absences (Blackstenius for family reasons, Ilestedt and Bjorn due to injury, while passatent and Eriksson left the national team), he thus relies on a green line that is more interesting than ever: central defender Andersson is 19 years old and already at Real Madrid, while the 22-year-old Bah and above all Felicia Schroder, an 18-year-old star, shine up front. Both still play in their homeland, with Hacken. Typically there will be little left.

lethal counterattack

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Italy’s start, net of a nice free kick from Linari, was timid and a bit confusing. Also because the Swedes take references well and complicate the backward construction, forcing unproductive launches. Halfway through the first half, Severini lost a bad ball in his half of the pitch, triggering the lethal counterattack: Bah sprinted, Schroder handled like a veteran with his back to goal, Angeldahl released a right-footed shot from outside the area which Giuliani didn’t read also due to an irregular rebound. And so, having broken the balance, Sweden takes control of the operations and arrives calmly at half-time. Without forcing.

reaction

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To reconnect to the match, the Azzurre clearly need a jolt. Even without replacements, a better version of Italy emerges from the changing rooms. Nothing that makes your eyes shine, but certainly more desire and energy. Fifteen minutes into the second half, goalkeeper Falk comes out empty and Cambiaghi manages to beat it with his head, but hitting the post mockingly. Soncin changes two thirds of the attack (Piemonte and Beccari for Cantore and Cambiaghi), Bonansea remains on the field and is also close to equalizing, always heading but in this case with a bad angle. With the Scandinavians in decline, the final had the appearance of an assault: the 4-2-4 produced another great opportunity when the substitute Dragoni forced Andersson to save two steps from the line. Sin. The attitude of the second half is the one from which to start again. The second match is on Saturday in Vicenza, against Denmark who beat Serbia 3-1. “I have nothing to reproach the team – Soncin’s immediate comment -, the result that matters so much in a 6-match group was missing, but I saw a crescendo and the right spirit which gives me hope for the next one. There was a team on the pitch to create many interesting situations and it was Italy”.