Blue triumph on penalties at Wembley after 1-1 at 120 ‘: heroic Donnarumma over Sancho and Saka
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Football is coming home. Of course, we can sing it, or rather scream without risking treason. Because football is also at home in Italy, and it’s a beautiful all-blue home. We are on the roof of Europe, we return under the eyes of President Mattarella after 53 years and we do so on the exact day of the 39th anniversary of the world triumph in Spain: we could not mortify such a date. The triumph comes on penalties thanks to a new feat by Gigio Donnarumma, who blocks the English twice after the 1-1 (goal by Shaw and Bonucci) in extra time. Yes, we made them blue and we did it at their home, in front of sixty thousand fans unleashed for 120 minutes. The Three Lions were tamed, we turned them into puppies, and Mancini managed to do all this while having fun and entertaining for a whole month. The fans, of course, but above all his boys. We won as protagonists, and not as opportunists as we have often been (and are) accused of being: this is the greatest merit.
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Maturity
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We were stronger than the wishes of Queen Elizabeth, the encouragement of Boris Johnson and the good luck over the phone by Tom Cruise, because this time the mission impossible was carried out by Italian actors. A European ridden by protagonists from start to finish, in which we have lived many lives: that of technical-tactical overwhelming power and fun, then of suffering and finally of maturity to go and take the cup at the opponents’ home, in a dressed stadium. all white. Mancini crowns a virtuous journey that began three years ago and completed exceptionally quickly, giving us a title that, in addition to enriching the trophy room in Coverciano, has the merit of relaunching an entire nation from all points of view. It is the Italy brand that shines again, with a people who have rediscovered the happiness of embracing each other again. Sports, economic and social victory.
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Attitude
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Mancini confirmed the eleven he had started with Spain, practically rewarding those who accompanied him to the final, although this team has well over eleven protagonists. The only doubt that had begun to hover at a certain time on the eve, namely the use of a false nine instead of Immobile, was resolved in favor of the number 17. Then flanked by Chiesa and Insigne, with the median composed of Barella, Jorginho, Verratti and the defensive line with Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini and Emerson. Southgate, on the other hand, has changed the score with respect to the indications of the eve and it is something that somehow does us honor because it has opted for a more conservative than offensive system. Let’s say a prudential line-up: no 4-3-3 and not even 4-2-3-1, but a 3-4-3 that gives way to protect oneself with five defenders. It was Saka who paid the price, with the right lane entrusted to Trippier. All the others confirmed, with Kane in center-forward, Mount on his left, Sterling on the center-right and the Phillips-Rice tandem in the middle. More collected form, okay, but then, as coaches always say, it is the attitude that counts. And the British started better than us, hitting us with a bucket of cold water when the clock showed only one minute and 55 seconds of play. Trippier’s cross from the trocar and in the middle of the area we made a mess, placing three (Bonucci, Barella and Di Lorenzo, while Chiellini had widened towards the wing) on two men (Sterling and Kane), completely ignoring the insertion by Shaw on the left. Di Lorenzo did not climb and the United full-back finished undisturbed with a rebound just a few steps away from Donnarumma.
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What a blow
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It was a notable blow, also because in these Europeans we had never found ourselves under. A new terrain of challenge. A goal that further gassed the hosts and opened wounds in our game certainties. Which in fact have struggled to come out. Until halfway through the fraction we were not able to take the game in hand, and even when it did it was a circulation for the most part cumbersome and stained by several errors. Sometimes even trivial, in the supports and throws, a clear sign of the psychological backlash to the disadvantage-shock. England, it must be said, was able to always stay short – definitely shorter than us – and therefore facilitated to close when not managing the ball, and then restarted with the percussion of Sterling, the incessant hammering of Shaw, the profitable protection of the balloon from Kane and Mount’s clever insertions. Not to mention the aerial duels: the challenge is too unequal. We remained contracted and not very clean in the passages for about half an hour, sketching some shy attempts with Insigne and building only one real opportunity thanks to the good will of Chiesa, who did everything by himself and concluded a few centimeters from the pole. The solitary initiative – thirty meters of field – gives the idea of how Italy this time found it difficult to weave the usual web. And, even when we managed to close the white jerseys in the last twenty meters, we found no outlets. If nothing else, we managed to take measures in the defensive phase: the British no longer became dangerous.
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Securities
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In the second half Mancini did not wait long to put his hand to the orchestra. Minute number nine, outside Barella (who was tired and cautioned) and Immobile, inside Cristante and Berardi. Translated: Insigne false nine, Berardi and right and Chiesa moved to the left. The temptation of the eve became reality out of necessity. As the minutes went by, inertia moved to our side, with the ball becoming more and more blue and a comfortable handful of meters gnawed at the whites. At 17 ‘, Chiesa tried again, the most inspired by the trident detachment, forcing Pickford to make a complicated blow and, after an English break (Donnarumma’s flight on the Stones’ dip), we grabbed the match again. Corner from the right, scramble in the area, Chiellini is sunk by Stones but before a possible penalty can be assessed the action continues: Verratti’s header on the post and ball that bounces docile on Bonucci’s foot, quick to insert the door unattended under the clove of blue fans. At that point the script of the first 45 was completely overturned. England saw certainties and mastery melt away, giving us another field and Italy found itself making the Italy we have known. For long stretches she is the master of spaces and of the ball. Five minutes from 90 ‘Mancini removed Chiesa, bruised, for Bernardeschi, who placed himself in the center, diverting Insigne back to the left.
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Pali and parate
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And at the start of overtime, another change. Inside Belotti, outside Insigne, or Bernardeschi wide on the left. A few minutes later the curtain for Verratti and space for Locatelli. Italy remained in control of the match: we with the ball, they in the throw. Without real scoring chances. In the second overtime, Gigio terrified us with a half empty exit, Mancini put Florenzi on for Emerson, but no one took epochal risks anymore and so we landed on the spot. In the worst door unfortunately, the one with the English fans behind. Berardi: goal. Kane: goal. Belotti: saved. Maguire: goal. Bonucci: goal. Rashford: pole. Bernardeschi: goal. Sancho: saved. Jorginho: saved. Saka: saved. We are on the top of Europe and this cup is ours, “porca puttena”.
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July 11, 2021 (change July 12, 2021 | 00:58)
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