Under 21, Italy-Japan 1-1: Colombo is not enough

by our correspondent Alex Frosio

September 26
– CASTEL DI SANGRO

The friendly match in Castel di Sangro between Italy and Japan Under 21 ends 1-1. Nicolato confirms only 4 elements among those who started against England: Colombo in front, Rovella in the middle (but with Fagioli more central and he right), Viti and Scalvini in defense, with the former Atalantino moving to the center-right because Pirola settles in the center. Still 3-5-2, with Bellanova and Udogie on the outside, Vignato on the left and Esposito alongside Colombo. Japan is described as a team that is quick to attack and compact, instead leaving the ball and construction to Italy.

FIRST HALF

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The Azzurri look for combinations and maneuver, in the 8 ‘cross from Bellanova from fifth to fifth for Udogie, anticipated by the right-back Handa. The Japanese remain far from the goal of the rookie Caprile: at 17 ‘Hosoya snatches Fagioli and tries from halfway, wrong aim. An insistent action on 18 ‘leads Udogie to the shot with the right, wide. The game did not take off: the Azzurri phrased but in the last thirty meters there is never the right passage. At 35 ‘it seems to be that of Rovella who in transition activates Vignato on the trocar, filtering for Esposito whose shot is deflected by the defender Nishio in cover. Japan puts their heads out: they do it only once quickly, in the 36th minute, when Handa filters for Hosoya who with the soft touch does not frame the goal, then a minute later is countered by Scalvini. At 39 ‘, finally, the blue goal: cross from Bellanova, Handa controls but falls asleep, Esposito goes into contrast, the ball rears up and Colombo coordinates beautifully and puts his left foot at the crossroads. Only good goals for the Lecce striker, on his second goal with the Under 21 team after that of a year ago against Montenegro a year ago. “But I have to learn to score bad goals too,” he says at the end. The bad choices in the last quarter are well represented by a right from outside Bellanova in the 44th minute, with the field still in front to run. At 46 ‘the first Japanese shot on goal: Saito from outside, Caprile blocks. A minute later Suzuki breaks free with a fake from Pirola and Fagioli but closes the right too much.

THE SHOOT

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It starts with two novelties in Italy: Nicolato refreshes the bands with Cambiaso and Parisi for Bellanova and Udogie. Two changes also in Japan, which with Sato for Saito and Fujio for Honda goes from 4-4-2 to 4-2-3-1. At the 2 ‘goal canceled to Esposito, who is inserted – from offside – on a slalom of Parisi. At 5 ‘Sato replies, who passes into the area but is closed by Caprile on exit. The speed of the Japanese combinations, however, increases and at 10 ‘the draw arrives. A corner pattern leads to the tirop Kato, who misses the conclusion but his tiraccio becomes an assist for Fujio at the far post. Italy is struggling to get back into the game. Esposito tries on 17 ‘, his right in the area is deflected for a corner by Suzuki. And then at 18 ‘Nicolato changes again: in Bove, Canestrelli and Cambiaghi. The Empoli striker enlivens the left wing: in the 23rd minute Colombo serves, right on the side. At 28 ‘cross from Cambiaso, Canestrelli heads Sasaki in an offensive projection. At 32 ‘Bove manages to serve Colombo in the area who turns with the left, Sasaki gets up for a corner. Two more debuts before the end: Moro, in for Colombo, and Ruggeri, in for Viti, while Ranocchia replaces Rovella. But the energies are in reserve. It ends evenly and ends with Japan which, as at the entrance to the field, greets the audience of Castel di Sangro with a much appreciated bow.