The Italians from Favo achieved their third victory out of three in the group and consolidated first place with 9 points
With full points and with full sails, in view of the direct elimination phase. Massimiliano Favo’s Italy closed group A of the U17 World Cup in Qatar with another victory, thanks to a 3-1 win over South Africa which secured first place (qualification for the round of 32 was already arithmetic). Only on Tuesday, at the end of the first phase, will the Italians know their next opponent (presumably one of the eight best third-placed teams, which will make up a ranking). In the 3-1 win against the South Africans – they were also ahead in second place – the brace from the usual Samuele Inacio stood out. For the Borussia Dortmund striker, top scorer in the U17 European Championship in May, there have already been four goals in three games.
turnover
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With the round of 32 already in his pocket, Favo distributes minutes to rebalance the energies: there are six changes among the starters compared to the success against Bolivia, with the rotations affecting three quarters of the defense (in Iddrisa, Bovio and Reggiani) and two thirds of the midfield (space for Pandolfi and Maccaroni). Up front, Arena takes Campaniello’s place. 3 minutes are enough to unlock it: a through ball from Maccaroni for Inacio to pass through a lopsided defensive line and a right-foot cross from the blue number 10. In the first half hour, Italy could even take off but failed to double the lead first with Reggiani two steps from goal, then twice with Lontani. A law as old as football, however, ensures that mistakes are followed by a goal conceded (the first of this expedition): a free kick taken quickly, the defense slept – waiting for the whistle from the referee who wasn’t there – and Els’s kick for the equaliser, in the rebound after a post from Mareletse (the slippery captain, just 165 centimetres). We go to half-time with a draw that is clearly tight.
sand-stone axis
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At half-time Favo brought on Steffanoni and Elimoghale (in place of Pandolfi and Lontani), with the two substitutes immediately interacting and challenging the reactive goalkeeper Radebe. We continue to collect opportunities – in the middle, a save by Longoni on a treacherous cross shot – until we break the balance again, removing all bad thoughts: Arena takes center stage and first signs the 2-1 with a header from a corner, then sends Inacio through on goal for his personal brace (3-1). The Roma Primavera striker, born in Sydney (in fact he also played with Australia’s U16s) and brought to Italy by Pescara with whom he was promoted to Serie B last June, also takes up the position. Accounts essentially closed, in view of a final of pure administration in which there is also time for the crossbar from a free kick by substitute Baralla. There remains only a thread of concern about Iddrisa’s injury, replaced in the hope that it is nothing serious. Because in a few days, in Doha, we will start to get serious.
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