Nations League, Italy with 10 men suffers Belgium’s comeback

With 10 men, Italy suffered a comeback from Belgium from 2-0 to 2-2 at the Olympic stadium in Rome on the third day of the Nations League, but still managed to maintain first place alone in group A2 with one point advantage over France and three over Domenico Tedesco’s men, who returned to the game at the end of the first half with Pellegrini’s expulsion, after the Azzurri they had found the double advantage with goals from Cambiaso and Retegui. Spalletti’s national team thus confirms for just 40 minutes the excellent signs shown against France and Israel, but also manages to leave behind the problem of the approach to the match, which manifested itself at the European Championships and last month. Against Albania and France the Azzurri conceded a goal after a minute, but this time it was Spalletti’s men who ended up on the scoreboard after a few seconds.

The opening action is textbook and starts from Retegui’s side and develops at the feet of Pellegrini. Dimarco does the rest with a low cross for Cambiaso’s touch on the net. The axis from fifth to fifth works and in the 24th minute it’s a change of play from the usual Dimarco for the scorer of the first goal to inspire the 2-0: Cambiaso reaches the conclusion with his left foot, Casteels dives away but can’t do anything on Retegui’s winning tap in. The match changes in the 41st minute. An intervention by Pellegrini on Theate’s Achilles tendon was initially punished with a yellow by referee Eskas, but the VAR analysis pushes the Norwegian match director to draw the red light for the Roma player. Within a minute Italy were left with 10 men and conceded a goal. Tielemans’ free-kick scheme involves Trossard, who is good at cushioning the ball for De Cuyper’s powerful shot, which leaves Donnarumma with no chance. In the 62nd minute, Belgium equalized again on a dead ball: following a corner kick, Faes headed the ball to Trossard who volleyed past the Italian goalkeeper from two steps. In the last half hour there is space for a slow-motion episode (contact between Bastoni and Openda in the blue area) and for Pisilli’s blue debut. The draw in the end leaves both teams with regrets. Italy will return to action on 14 October against Israel at the Friuli Stadium in Udine.

The other match of the group

On neutral ground in Budapest, France overwhelms Israel 4-1 and takes 6 points to group B of League A of the Nations League. Didier Deschamps’ vice-world champions take the lead on 7th minute with Camavinga, on 24th minute Gandelman equalizes, but on 28th Nkunku puts the Bleus back ahead. In the 87th minute the 1-3 was scored by Lazio midfielder Guendouzi, three minutes later it was Barcola who scored the poker for the final 1-4. Ranking: Italy 7 points; France 6; Belgium 4; Israel 0.