Italy booked their place into the Nations League Final Four on Wednesday night as they easily disposed of Bosnia Herzegovina in their last group stage test. Andrea Belotti and Domenico Berardi’s goals wrapped the Azzurri‘s 22nd consecutive game without conceding a defeat and sent them…home, as the Final Four will be hosted in Milan and Turin in October 2021.
The Azzurri got rid of Bosnia with confidence and authority, showing that their minds were set on the European commitment despite the non-irresistible opposition. It was a victory for Andrea Belotti – who didn’t make Ciro Immobile’s absence be noticed – and of Lorenzo Insigne, who’s getting more and more confident in his new role with Italy.
But, moreover, it was a victory for coach Roberto Mancini, who couldn’t be in the dugout tonight as he still battling with coronavirus, but must get full credit for picking a national side in pieces after their shocking elimination in the World Cup Qualfiers two years ago and turning them into one of the most fearsome European outfit these days.
Alberico Evani, who replaced Mancini on the bench, lined up pretty much the same men that beat Poland 2-0 on Sunday, with the exception of Domenico Berardi replacing Federico Bernardeschi as right winger. Bosnia were maimed by the coronavirus as well, and couldn’t count on starting goalkeeper Ibrahim Sehic, Arsenal left-back Sead Kolasinac, and moreover, Roma’s Edin Dzeko.
The night started with a positive news for the Azzurri as Poland took an early lead against the Netherlands. That meant Italy could afford getting only one point out of their game with Bosnia and still qualify for the Nations League Final Four.
Italy didn’t seem to need any favor, however, as they quickly took control of the game and accumulated a ball possession that peaked at 69% in the middle of the first half. There were not many scoring chances for either side but Evani’s squad drew first blood as soon as they managed to show themselves into the opposition box.
In the 22ne minute, Manuel Locatelli recovered the ball at midfield and served Lorenzo Insigne, whose progression on the left side ended with a cross for Andrea Belotti on the far post. Belotti’s touch didn’t seem a great one but somehow resulted in the ball getting a lob effect that left no chance to Bosnia’s goalkeeper.
Around the half-hour mark, a Nicolò Barella cross from the right set Belotti free to tap the ball in on the far post, but Emerson Palmieri’s head deflection prevented Il Gallo from wrapping what could have been an easy conversion.
Bosnia reacted with Smail Prevljak finding the space to turn in the box and whip the ball towards the Azzurri‘s goal, but Gianluigi Donnarumma showed some good reflexes in the occasion.
From the right side, Nicolò Barella conjured a fine cross to ignite another Insigne progression on the opposite flank. This time, Lorenzo Il Magnifico went for the shot himself, missing the target by just a few inches.
The trend didn’t change after the restart, with Italy continuing to push to score the second. Insigne exchanged with Belotti again and Torino’s bomber hit the side netting. Then, it was Emerson Palmieri’s time to cross for Francesco Acerbi, who suddenly turned finisher and tested Bosnia’s Kenan Piric with a dangerous shot to the far post. The host’s backup goalkeeper proved equal to the task.
Piric couldn’t do anything, however, when Manuel Locatelli found his teammate Domenico Berardi with a delicious lobbed cross in the middle of the box and Sassuolo’s striker finished with a swift volley to double the Azzurri‘s lead.
That was it. The rest of the game was garbage time but there was still a chance for Federico Bernardeschi – who had just replaced Berardi – to make Bosnia’s woodwork rattle, courtesy of another Lorenzo Insigne brilliant service.
Italy joins Belgium, France, and Spain in what promises to be a thrilling Final Four edition. Many things can change in one year but, as things stand now, Italy are rightfully among the top four national sides in Europe.
MATCH REPORT
November 18, 2020 – Nations League 2020-2021 Group A
BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA-ITALY 0-2
SCORERS: 22′ Belotti, 68′ Berardi
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BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA (4-3-3): Piric; Corluka, Hadzikandunic Sanicanin, Kadusic (79′ Todorovic); Cimirot, Pjanic (77′ Danilovic), Gojak; Tatar (79′ Rahmanovic), Prevljak (79′ Hadzic), Krunic (72′ Loncar) (Todorovic, Kovacevic, Nastic, Milosevic, Loncar, Rahmanovic, Zikic, Visca, Danilovic, Hadzic, Kacavenda, Dizdarevic) Coach: Bajevic |
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ITALY (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Florenzi (46′ Di Lorenzo), Acerbi, Bastoni, Emerson; Barella, Jorginho, Locatelli; Berardi (82′ Bernardeschi), Belotti (83′ Lasagna), Insigne (94′ Calabria) (Sirigu, Meret, Romagnoli, Calabria, D’Ambrosio, Di Lorenzo, Soriano, Pessina, Bernardeschi, Tonali, Orsolini, Lasagna) Coach: Evani (substituting Mancini) |
REFEREE: Soares Dias (Portugal)
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Kadusic (B), Berardi (I); Extra Time: 1st Half 0′, 2nd Half 3′
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