COMING SOON: Start of live: 09/02/2021 at 20:33
IN PROGRESS: Updated at 22:40
ENDED: End of live:
It’s over ! Italy is held in check by Bulgaria!
The last center of Chiesa! (95th)
The Italian winger sends a good cross in the area but he is sent back by the Bulgarian defense!
Free kick that gives nothing for Bulgaria
On a distant free kick, the Bulgarians are penalized with an offensive foul!
The Italians push (92nd)
Mancini’s players want to offer this success to their home crowd but they are currently up against the good Bulgarian defense!
5 minutes of additional time!
Change for Italy
Pellegrini replaces Emerson.
Raspadori’s strike is countered! (88th)
Found in the area, the Italian number 9 turns around and tries his luck but it is diverted for a corner!
Cardboard for Nedyalkov (86th)
The left side is penalized after a bad gesture on Berardi
It is completely missed by Bonucci!
The Italian defender’s free kick flies into the stands!
Free kick very well placed for Italy! (84th)
Emerson provokes and gets a free kick at the entrance to the Bulgarian area!
It’s still hot in front of the Bulgarian cage! (79th)
Chiesa finds Emerson in the box but the side’s low cross passes in front of the goal without anyone coming to catch it!
Change also for Bulgaria
Kirillov remplace Vitanov.
Mancini throws all his strength into the battle (75th)
Double change for Italy with the entries of Berardi and Raspadori instead of Insigne and Immobile passer tonight.
Georgiev s’impose encore ! (73e)
Verratti sends a delicious deep pass for Immobile who tries his luck without control but it is released by the Bulgarian goalkeeper!
Italy still cannot find the fault! (71st)
The Italians are pushing but no longer manage to obtain a clear situation. The corners are multiplying and the solution may perhaps come from these phases of the game!
The badge strike! (66th)
In possession of the leather on the left side, Insigne transplanted and tried his luck but his shot was too soft to worry the Bulgarian goalkeeper.
Double change for Italy (63rd)
Toloi and Cristante replace Barella and Florenzi
WHAT A STOP BY GEORGIEV BEFORE CHIESA! (62nd)
We take the same and we reverse! Barella tries a through ball, but Chisea is caught offside. Georgiev takes the corner.
THE BARREL HIT! (60th)
Found by Chiesa in the box, Barella sends a heavy strike but it spins right next to Georgiev’s right upright!
Change for Bulgaria (57th)
The Bulgarians make a new change with Yankov who is replaced by Chochev.
New corner for Italy! (55th)
After a good phase of possession, Barella shifts Chiesa into the box but his shot is blocked and goes out for a corner. Corner which gives nothing.
Barella’s strike! (50th)
Found at the entrance to the area, Barella tries his luck without control but his shot is countered and goes for a corner! The Italians put great pressure on the Bulgarian cage at the start of the period!
Change for Bulgaria
Upon returning from the locker room, the Bulgarian coach made a change with the exit of Yomov replaced by Delev.
Hristov saving his team! (49th)
Leaving against the clock, the Bulgarian doorman sees Immobile pass him before he crosses. Hristov then clears the ball as best he can!
Church again him! (46e)
The Italian winger starts his second half in the same way as the first. Found on the right side, he eliminates his opposite before crossing but his pass is repelled by the Bulgarian defense.
It’s back to Florence!
It’s the break in Florence!
Italy is held in check for its comeback! Mancini’s men had however started the match perfectly by monopolizing the ball and finding the loophole from the quarter of an hour of play thanks to a superb action of Chiesa who deceived Georgiev with a beautiful cross strike from the left. Subsequently, the Italians outrageously dominated without creating a clear opportunity except for the strike of Immobile in the 37th. Despite everything, Mancini’s men were surprised just before the break by a rush of Despodov which put Iliev in orbit to deceive Donnaruma. Everything remains to be done in this match!
GEORGIEV’S JUDGMENT IN FRONT OF THE INSIGNIA (45th)
Insigne achieves a superb sequence to enter the box and shoot but his attempt was kicked out by Georgiev!
No penalty on Immobile! (43rd)
Found on a long ball in the box, Immobile is roughly loaded by two Bulgarian defenders but the referee does not flinch!
BULGARIA GOAL (40th)
Cold snap in Florence! Despodov recovered the ball in his camp and easily got rid of Florenzi before crossing for Iliev who passed Donnaruma at close range. By dint of not being killer enough, the Italians were punished!
THE IMMOBILE STRIKE! (36th)
The Italian striker intercepts a bad Bulgarian pass and takes the opportunity to slip into the box. In an off-center position, he tries his luck in force but his strike is repelled by Georgiev!
The National team has fun (34th)
The Italians take place at the end of half-time, but are perhaps doing a little too much with multiplication of heels rather than trying their luck. The Bulgarians are now cornered.
Yomov sanctioned by the referee (31st)
After having protested in a too virulent way, Yomov receives a yellow.
The center of Florenzi! (29th)
Alerted by Insigne, the Italian right-back tries to brush his center but it ends directly in Georgiev’s gloves.
Stretcher have you! (26e)
The Italian midfielder is warned after a clash with Kostadinov.
The Chiesa-Immobile combination does not work! (25th)
After a high recovery from Chiesa, the latter tries to rely on Immobile but unlike the first goal, the combination is intercepted by the Bulgarian defense!
Bulgarians try to get out (22nd)
The visitors give themselves a short respite by spinning the ball but facing the Italian pressing, they are forced to extend and lose the ball.
Italy largely dominates
Sure of its strength, the Nazionale dominated this meeting without difficulty and totaled 75% of possession after almost 20 minutes of play!
BUUUUT DE CHIESA! (16e)
La Nazionale is already taking the lead thanks to a superb job from Chiesa! The Italian winger eliminates two players on the right side before relying on Immobile and trying his luck. His cross strike at ground level is beyond Georgiev’s reach and puts Italy in the lead in this match!
THE FIRST BULGARIAN STRIKE! (14th)
Found on the left side, Despodov strikes and transplants on his right foot before trying his luck but his strike does not catch the frame!
THE BADGE FAILED! (13th)
After sneaking into the area thanks to a favorable counter, the Napoli striker finds himself facing the Bulgarian goalkeeper and misses the target!
Barella’s cross gives nothing (11th)
Alerted on the right side, the Italian midfielder sends a cross into the box but it is easily captured by Georgiev.
Insignia strike countered! (8th)
On a magnificent opening from Jorginho, Insigne achieves superb control to get on his right foot and try his luck, but his shot is blocked by the Hungarian defense.
First ball in the Bulgarian area (4th)
After a superb diagonal from Bonucci towards Emerson, Verratti sends a cross towards Chiesa who finishes his race out of goal.
The Italians put their foot on the ball (2nd)
Logically the Italians take the game on their own against a Bulgarian team which expects to suffer.
Let’s go to the Artemio Franchi stadium!
Make way for hymns!
Bonucci honored for his 100 selections
Today at 110 caps, the Juventus player could not be congratulated in front of his audience because of the pandemic.
The XI of Bulgaria
Here is the Bulgarian starting line-up for the game against Italy!???????????????????? pic.twitter.com/9FFNS3CL94
— Team Bulgaria (@Team_Bulgaria) September 2, 2021
The XI chosen by Roberto Mancini
???? #WCQThe 11 #Azzurri ???? chosen by the coach Mancini however #Italy ???? #Bulgaria????????⏱️ Today, 8.45 pm????️ Stadium #Franchi – #Florence???? Live on # Rai1#Qatar2022#ItaBul#ItalyBulgaria#Azzurri#VivoA Azzurropic.twitter.com/2G5RmHwgpu
– Italian National ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri) September 2, 2021
Italy with a new status to assume
Reigning European champion, Roberto Mancini’s men now have a status to defend and it will be interesting to see how the Italians will behave. Leader of its group with 3 wins in as many games, the Nazionale is undefeated for 34 games, the best series in its history and is one game away from equaling the record held by Spain and Brazil (35).
Good evening everyone
Welcome to this live commentary for this match between Italy and Bulgaria counting towards the qualification for the 2022 World Cup. This match will be played at the Artemio Franchi stadium in Florence.
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