Beh. Subs kinda go out the window when you are down to 10 then 9. My only gripe with Nunziata's subs is that down to 10 why take out Koleosho when he is probably the player with the most pace and just scored a goal that was largely a solo effort?
Luca Koleosho’s star is way up. If this tournament didn’t convince any team in Italy to come get him, there is no hope for Serie A. The back 3 were solid and showed a lot of character. I see Ghilardi being promoted to the senior team sooner rather than later. We are really lacking in good right footed defenders. Coppola was immense today.
This goal and tournament appearance surely has him commit his international career to Italy over Canada and the US if he hadn't already. It will make all the "we all bleed red" crowd happy as well.
Italy had a really strong start to the second half but the tides turned around the ~60 min mark with the German triple change and fresh legs. Both attackers did Nunziata no favors today with stupid yellow cards, sure, but there was simply too much quality left on the bench rotting away who could impact the game prior to it going off the rails, IMO.
Indeed, Nunziata didn’t react to that triple sub. This was followed by the Germans first good spell of pressure all match which netted them the equalizer. Casadei, Pissili and Kayode should have all come on sooner.
I still haven’t made up my mind about Nunziata. I questioned the lineup, but he looked like he was in it until the tying goal. Some people were calling for him to takeover the senior side, but I think he needs more time. Maybe one more cycle
Nunziata is stupid. He overly respected this German side. He left way too much quality on the bench for too long. Willy G is not a prima punta. That's just a waste of his capabilities and frankly he isn't that good. Koleosho played with confidence. That's promising for the young kid. We'll see how dumb Serie A clubs are in a few weeks. Ghilardi was a TITAN today. Of course the bigger Serie A clubs have been blind and now his price will go up and they will throw up there hands and say we can't afford him. What a joke. The ref was an ABSOLUTE DISGRAZIA today. Willy's card was justified, but Zanotti's was a joke. La partita era falsata. Pure and simple. The worst of it though was how one-sided he was. When German's hacked, it was nothing. When Germany's dove, he just let it go. Was this ref adopted by German parents? Even the German fans will be annoyed that this disgrace taints the game.
Btw...Nunziata's worst move was insisting on Ndour. What a useless player he is. If he wasn't 6'3, I'm not even sure he's be playing pro. He's completely asleep reading the game. Go back and watch Germany's first goal. He's 6'3 and has no clue where the ball is...he doesn't even jump. He should have cleared that ball out easily. DISASTROUS player. Nunziata should be hung just for that player selection.
I'm actually very impressed with Nunziata. Even with our 'conservative' lineup italy was by far the better team up until the point when Willy's second yellow occurred. Germany's only legit chance before then was the set piece which in all fairness Coppola should have got to before the huge German. Very impressed with Koleosho...besides the speed and counters, he was all over the field. I genuinely think he was subbed because his tracker was probably double that of everyone else..lol I think this team with Espoitio, Baldanzi, Miretti is among the favorites in this tournament. Willy as a false 9 is obviously not it. We really should have started Ambro as a reference point with Willy playing off of him and maybe Kole in some kind of wingers role. And obviously Ndour over Pisilli and Casadei is straight up weird.
Ndour has lead feet. His decision making is appalling as he constantly chooses the wrong pass and it puts the other mids under immediate pressure. Fabbian was a warrior today as was Coppola and Zanotti. A case could still have been made with the ET goal being offside. The German player was down on the deck offside and interfering with the play on the ET goal. It definitely through off Desplanches.
I apologize but I have to insist -- Has it been revealed what Zanotti's first Booking was for? As I wrote about him after the U20 WC 2 summers ago he needs to leave Switzerland and get back to Italy. Kudos to the Swiss League for giving him Minutes but he needs to play in a stronger league if he wants to play in the Senior team. He's not graceful or elegant but his his work rate is next level and it enders him to supporters.
Yeah, the German attacker was offside and the ball went right over him through a screen. Threw off Desplanches. Should have been offside because it affected the play. I thought that too.
It was from far enough distance where he should have at least dove. Another site says he should have Saved the 1st goal as well. I mean it was from close distance but almost right at him. Annoying
We were clearly the best team, even with 9 players! We were obviously robbed! What a shame. If we had gone in penalties Germany had no chance. We should have qualified. I saw Italy fighting spirit that causes fear to the opponent after a long time!
Mattia Zanotti first yellow Still can't believe this call. 2 U21 tournaments in a row where horrible officiating has a say in the final outcome.
There is a peace in losing the way we did. Now I would like to try to win all games...but this is digestible. It's funny how more digestible these things are when we know other matters took control of the game, but we fought to the end. It's better this way, to suffer in the middle of the pitch for all to see. This is an Italian loss. Again, I want to win everything so we cannot rest. But it is much better to suffer this way than to not fight at all. Much more invigorating. I haven't felt this pride since EURO achievement. Well, I was also proud of the U20 but disappointed in the abysmal effort vs Argentina. This said, the brothers Esposito have confused me. I'm a mix of disappointed at the brothers and angry at Inter. And perhaps it is not justified from me? This is why I am conflicted on this.
i don't think Sebastiano was getting picked no matter what. Pio was picked and was out of comission for at least the group stage. As much as I hate that he wasn't there , i can understand it...Italian clubs are so fickle that they probably would have held it against him if he didn't play in this stupid club world cup.
I read 19 year old Italo-Argentine ,Gianluca Prestianni collapsed yesterday in Benfica’s Club World Cup game against Bayern and had to come off. Probably because of the heat. Is he still on Italy’s radar?
Yes! I recall Mancini inquired about Prestianni's availabilty. Da Capaldo e Valentini a Maestro Puch: tutti gli oriundi nel mirino di Mancini per l'Italia -
Can’t believe anyone wanted Mancini back. I remember he was as trying to poach a Brazilian right back that probably wouldn’t make Brazil’s 4th squad