Mancini’s men, better in the first half, saw victory in jeopardy after a good Dutch second period
The duel was encouraged after going through the changing rooms with Ronald Koeman’s team, much more daring
The Italian team led by Roberto Mancini finished in third position in the Nations League after beating the Netherlands by two goals to three. His ease in front of goal in the first half was key to the victory, since Ronald Koeman’s men pressed beautifully after the break and went one target below on the scoreboard.
DATA SHEET
UEFA Nations League
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ITA
LINEUPS
Netherlands
Bijlow; Dumfries, Geertruida (Wijnaldum, 46′), Van Dijk, Aké; Wieffer (Veerman, 76′), De Jong, Simons (Koopmeiners, 63′); Malen (Bergwijn, 46′), Gakpo and Lang (Weghorst, 46′).
Italy
Donnarumma; Tolói, Acerbi, Buongiorno, Dimarco (Spinazzola, 74′); Frattesi, Cristante, Verratti (Barella, 85′); Gnonto (Zaniolo, 63′), Retegui (Pellegrini, 85′) and Raspadori (Chiesa, 63′)
goals
0-1 M. 6 Dimarco. 0-2 M. 20 Frattesi. 2-1 M. 68 Bergwijn. 1-3 M. 73 Chiesa. 2-3 M. 90 Wijnaldum
Referee
Glenn Nyberg (Sweden). TA: Weghorst (95′); Dimarco (34′), Barella (92′) and Acerbi (95′)
incidents
Twente Stadium. 22,000 viewers
It only took Dimarco six minutes to open the can, in practically the first arrival of the transalpine team. A ball fell on the left-handed winger from Inter in the left area of the area and, after adjusting his leather, he took a shot that Bijlow could not reach.
And that it was the Netherlands that monopolized the ball, but they ran out of ideas in the three-quarter zone. Lacking movement and depth, a placed Italian defense had it very easy to cut balls and mount the counter. That’s how it came, andOn the 20th of the game, the second, the work of Frattesi, who beat the Dutch goalkeeper when he found a ball in the heart of the area and, unmarked, scored the second. The VAR went into action since there was a doubt as to whether the control had been with the hand, but it ended up validating the target.
The only chance for the Netherlands in the first half didn’t come until 40′, when Gakpo shot too cross a ball that he controlled in the left area of the penalty area.
Koeman moved the bench at half-time and this changed the face of his team, who now in addition to controlling the duel were in danger over the goal of Donnarumma. The entry of Werghost, Wijnaldum and Bergwjin gave the ‘Oranje’ more personality in attack.
This was evident from the first minute of play, with several chances from Gakpo and a weak shot from Dumfries. The goal was about to fall, but it didn’t arrive… until, in minute 69′, the locals found the prize through Bergwijn, who sent a loose ball into the net.
The game was broken, because if the Netherlands had gone up, they were leaving more space behind. It took advantage of it Italy to mount dangerous counters, and in one of them Chiesa, in the left area of the area, would score the third with a cross shot.
It seemed that said target was the finishing touch for Koeman’s men, but Koopmeiners got his team into the duel… with a goal that the VAR annulled for offside. yes it was worth the Wijnaldum, with a powerful shot from inside the area after a good inside pass from Veermanbut it was already too late, despite the added nine minutes.