2023-06-15 23:30:27
What a week for Rodri! Hero of the Champions League final, his shot deflected by Joselu in the 88th minute sent Spain to the final of the Nations League by beating Italy (2-1), as two years ago, Thursday at Enschede (Netherlands). La “Roja”, beaten by France in 2021 (2-1), will challenge Luka Modric’s Croatia on Sunday, who left an impression of quiet strength once morest the Netherlands (4-2 ap) the day before.
A powerful strike from Rodri, as with Manchester City to beat Inter Milan (1-0) on Saturday, found the Espanyol player, who like Modric (37) gets better with age: Joselu scored three goals in three selections, at 33!
He had just replaced Alvaro Morata (84th) at the forefront, still generous but still lacking in success, as on this clever pivot strike gone from nothing to the side (49th).
French central hinge
Rodri and Joselu have relieved their coach Luis de la Fuente, much criticized following the defeat in Scotland (2-0) in qualifying for Euro-2024. His choice of a central hinge with a French accent finally paid off, following a difficult start.
Robin Le Normand got off to a bad start in his very first selection with his adopted country: his hand on a cross from Nicolo Zaniolo cost his team a penalty, converted by Ciro Immobile (11 sp) for the equalizer.
The Breton of Real Sociedad rubbed his hair, and the big screens of Grolsch, the stadium of FC Twente, surprised his disappointed face. His partner Aymeric Laporte, who was playing in red for the 21st time, seemed to be in difficulty several times, but the two contained Italy still in dire need of great attackers.
Mancini is still looking
Spain is also looking for a great scorer, but Yeremy Pino took advantage of the start of the match (3rd) with a pass in the center of Gianluigi Donnarumma towards Leonardo Bonucci.
The captain was too easily snatched the ball by the striker, and the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper still displayed his excitement, as on this slightly weak fist outing (52nd). Despite the return to a three-man defense, in a white jersey to celebrate 125 years of FIGC, the Italian football federation, Roberto Mancini is still looking.
To find grounds for hope on the Italian side, the blaster Wilfried Gnonto having remained on the bench, you have to look at Davide Frattesi. The midfielder from Sassuolo thought he had scored his first goal in five caps, but he was offside by one shoulder (21). Then Unai Simon released his shot from close range (65).
He was replaced by Marco Verratti, who got his ovation but did not weigh (76). There remains the match for 3rd place, once morest the Netherlands, still in Enschede, to see progress for Italy.
But Spain was a cut above and deserved to win this 40th Italy-Spain in history, a duel that has more than a century of history, since a first clash won by the Iberians at the Olympic Games in Antwerp in 1920 (2-0). Spain now leads 13 wins to 11 (16 draws), it is she who will challenge Modric’s Croatia, favorite to win a first title.
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