Denmark players and Federation come to 'partial agreement' that will allow WCQ against Hungary to go ahead tomorrow
Yes, it was the first match ever for Milena Bertolini as the NT coach, and I have been quite pleased with the team performance, even considering that the championship hasn't started yet. Bonansea particularly was on fire, letterally unstoppable by the moldovan defenders, although we have to consider that their team is average at best, even for eastern-europe benchmarks. A more trustworthy test will be the one tomorrow vs. Romania away. Anyway, here there are the goals (from about 1'10 min.):
The match Romania - Italy will be broadcasted by a local sport TV. I have found a link (not the official one) that streams that channel in a very good quality so, crossing fingers, at 6 pm local time (5 pm in Italy) those interested can watch the match... http://tvrohdonline.com/digi-sport-2/2/
Yesterday they come to an agreement to play this match http://www.dn.se/sport/fotboll/danmark-spelar-vm-kvalet-men-konflikten-annu-olost/ (swedish) https://www.dbu.dk/Nyheder/2017/September/klh_ungarn (danish the Danish FA's site) I find it on serveral nordic sites but nothing in English yet. The main disagreement stands but they agreed enough to at least play this match.
two games live right now, take your pick Denmark/Hungary http://www.laola1.tv/en-int/livestream/2017-09-19-hungary-denmark-len Germany vs Czech Republic http://cdn.livetvcdn.net/webplayer2.php?t=alieztv&c=54583&lang=en&eid=569338&lid=773756&ci=1566&si=1
Barbara Bonansea crosses in the box and forces an own-goal, putting Italy ahead at 76'! Forza ragazze! It's just baffling how Cabrini wasn't starting Bonansea at Euro 2017!
Romania-Italy 0-1 FT, after 6 minutes of extra-time. Cordunenanu, the Romanian player who had scored the own-goal, was also sent off for double Yellow Card in extra-time. Not the best day of her life, I'd say... Another girl who Cabrini hadn't considered (to the point of not bringing her in Netherlands for Euro 2017), Valentina Giacinti, was subbed-in in 2nd half and hit the crossbar with some kind of magical trick. I am not sure if it was also her the one who forced the Red Card given to Romania (could have maybe been Carissimi instead), but anyway it was a sound performance from Giacinti. Milena Bertolini has a clear picture of Italian women's football movement and knows very well who the best players are and who's deserving a call. I guess thiis away win was key for Italy and I knew it was going to be more difficult than it looked on paper. I don't actually see Romania competing for qualification, in a group including Belgium and Portugal, but Italy under Cabrini hadn't really developed a winning mentality and couldn't seem to win must-win matches: the girls had to come out from this mental lock and it wans't going to be easy. Also factor in that Italian women's league didn't start yet (the first match will be on 30th of Semptember) and that consequently the players weren't for sure at their best fitness, and you overall get a tougher match than it could have seemed. Now, with 6 points in two matches, and a +6 goal difference, Italy can look at the difficult matches that will come in the future vs Belgium and Portugal with some confidence.
Celebrations after the goal seem to indicate that the team wants to show their open support to Sampson, after last month's controversy and Aluko's allegations?
A round-up of tonight's results. A tough night for the Eastern European teams. GROUP 1: England vs Russia 6-0 Parris 11, Taylor 14, Nobbs 36, Bronze 44, Duggan 57,84 GROUP 2: Belarus vs Albania 1-0 Shuppo 48 Switzerland vs Poland 2-1 S: Bernauer 20, Dickenmann 39 || P: Pajor 34 GROUP 3: Norway vs Slovakia 6-1 N: Utland 3, Thorsnes 9, Reiten 21, CGHansen 27, 42(p), Mjelde 37(p) || S: Fabova 55 Northern Ireland vs Rep of Ireland 0-2 Furness 45(og), Campbell 69 GROUP 4: Hungary vs Denmark 1-6 H: Jakabfi 41(p) || D: Nadim 28(p), Troelsgaard 44,67,74, Harder 55, Sørensen 88 Croatia vs Sweden 0-2 Hurtig 62, Asllani 90+2 GROUP 5: Czech Republic vs Germany 0-1 Bartonova 51(og) GROUP 6: Romania vs Italy 0-1 Corduneanu 77(og) Belgium vs Moldova 12-0 Cayman 3,55,60(p),70, Wullaert 26,29,38, Philtjens 35, Deloose 62, Vanmechelen 65, De Caigny 69, Colesnicenco 84(og) GROUP 7: Serbia vs Austria 0-4 Burger 15,37,90+2, Billa 18
I am glad to read that Nicole Billa is already back! Her injury in the semifinal of Euro 2017 vs Denmark, about a month ago, had seemed quite serious at the time, so I was afraid whe would have had to stay out for more.
Belgium 12 - 0 Moldova Czech Rep. 0 - 1 Germany Hungary 1 - 6 Denmark Switzerland 2 - 1 Poland England 6 - 0 Russia
This somehow puts Italia-Moldova 5-0 in a different perspective... I guess Belgium will be a very difficult obstacle to overcome for Italy.