Italy doesn’t shine, but at times they ‘dance’ dangerously in defence. In the first friendly match close to the European Championships in Germany, the Azzurri of the coach, Luciano Spalletti, against Vincenzo Montella’s Turkey, did not take off, limiting themselves to a draw without goals and entertainment. After a first half with a slow and measured rhythm in which Bologna’s Dall’Ara was enthusiastic only when Cristante hit the post with a header, at the end of the first 45′, Jorginho and his teammates staged a slightly faster and more lively recovery but certainly not to keep in the drawer of the best football memories. What should be kept in mind, however, is Fagioli’s return to the national team in the second half, rehabilitated after his long disqualification for betting and applauded by the public.
Spalletti dissolves his reserves and sends Pellegrini onto the pitch instead of Folorunsho. The attacking midfielder is Retegui, Scamacca goes to the stands as soon as he arrives. Orsolini and Chiesa from the 1st minute. Vicar in goal in place of Donnarumma. For Turkey Montella mixes up the cards a bit but on the pitch there is the Juventus star Yildiz and the Italian champion midfielder with Inter, Calhanoglu. In front of Renato Dall’Ara’s over 25,000 players, Spalletti’s team begins its match in slow motion with the Azzurri setting up without any particular jolts and the Turks acting on the counterattack in search of the right space. First chance for Italy with Retegui who controls a good ball on the edge of the area and shoots with his left foot, the ball well out. Later the Genoa striker tries again: a very dangerous corner kick by Dimarco at the near post, Retegui fails to intervene with the ball crossing the entire penalty area. Turkey also shows up on the header: from the development of a corner, Yilmaz’s header ends just over the crossbar.
Shortly after the half hour, a beautiful personal move by Cristante who goes away on the right, puts a ball in which Retegui doesn’t reach but Chiesa does and attempts the first-time conclusion, the ball goes out. For their part, Montella’s team acts with quick counterattacks that embarrass the Italian defense more than once. Shortly before the end of the first half Kabak was injured and was forced to leave on a stretcher, probably due to a knee problem.
In his place Demiral, former Atalanta and Juventus. A few moments from the end the most dangerous action, made by the Roma-branded Azzurri: cross from the corner by Pellegrini with Cristante jumping higher than anyone, hitting the post with his header.
The restart starts with two new players for Italy: Zaccagni in place of Chiesa and Cambiaso in place of Orsolini, who has been booked. The blue action seems faster and more concrete without, however, producing actions to remember. Among these is that of Pellegrini who goes away on the right and puts a soft ball to the far post, Retegui with an overhead kick sends it over the crossbar. Shortly afterwards, Fagioli enters the field in place of Jorginho and is applauded for a long time by the Dall’Ara crowd. Then it’s Raspadori and Frattesi’s turn, while Pellegrini, in pain from a blow to his knee, and Retegui come out.
Minutes pass and the match doesn’t take off, apart from two incursions by Cambiaso and Raspadori, despite the numerous fresh forces sent onto the field including the Bolognese Calafiori in place of Di Marco in the last minutes. It ends like this, amidst applause and handshakes, with Spalletti unable to smile at the dull Italian performance in front of an orderly Turkey capable of taking off only at times under the orders of the former Montella airplane.
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2024-06-04 21:58:44
#Slow #dry #Italy #doesnt #shine #Turkey #Football
