Under 21, Montenegro-Italy 1-1: Ricci responds to Rakonjac

The black spirit of the elimination of the greats – combined with the lack of habit of league football and the 4 months from the last match – seems to hover over the young blues, who draw 1-1 in Montenegro. The first half of the Under 21 is the worst of Nicolato’s management. The coach chooses Parisi on the left in defense and Portanova to put physical in the midfield. But Montenegro imposes its aggressiveness and its greater “weight”. Many technical errors, such as the stop missed by Vignato in the area at 9 ‘, little help from the thinkers Esposito and Ricci, shielded by Sofavic and Brnovic. Parisi tries to wake up the blue with a big left in the 20 ‘, just out. But Italy does not wake up. Leave too many second balls on the edge of the box. He is sleeping. And in the 37th minute, Montenegro passes into collective sleep: Krstovic’s unassuming punishment, the ball goes up, Carnesecchi doesn’t come out and Rakonjac (offside) in front of him is free to cross. The only good thing about our national team, which turns 4-4-2 with Colombo closer to Lucca, is the ability to equalize almost immediately: at 39 ‘cross from Bellanova, Babic stretches and Ricci at the far post with the right to flight slips between the legs of goalkeeper Ivezic.

LITTLE BRILLIANT

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At the beginning of the second half the ball, too deflated, is changed for the third time. Italy is also deflated. This is demonstrated by a tiraccio of Portanova who opens the second half. The game is bad, dirty, all physical, on a pitch full of humps that do not facilitate the blue dribble, already difficult by itself. A low cross from Krstovic scares our defense, a sudden right from Vukotic does not cause problems for Carnesecchi. Nicolato introduces Cancellieri for Colombo and Fagioli for Ricci, then for the final Yeboah for Lucca and the rookie Gaetano for Vignato. We don’t even go near the Montenegrin door. At 40 ‘, however, the match-ball: Esposito’s corner, Okoli beats in solitude at the first post but hits from the shoulder and does not frame the goal. Only 1-1. Italy, however, first on equal points with Sweden and with one game less. But hopefully better.