Italy’s dream vanishes just under five minutes from the 90th minute: Uruguay beat the Azzurrini 1-0 thanks to Rodriguez’s goal and win the Under-20 World Cup. Great disappointment for Carmine Nunziata’s boys, protagonists of a Top-level world championship. The tears at the final whistle are the photograph of disappointment. The Azzurrini challenge the South Americans against ‘Diego Armando Maradona’ in La Plata, with the top scorer of the World Cup: Cesare Casadei, author of seven goals in six games, a position that is now unassailable but, against ‘Celeste’, little is seen.
In fact, right from the start Uruguay dictated the rhythms while the Azzurrini made a fuss, finding space too hard. After the decisive goal against South Korea in the semifinal, Nunziata launches Pafundi starting from 1′ next to Ambrosino. Behind them confirmed Baldanzi, outside Esposito. Compared to the previous formations, there is no Zanotti in defence. Prati should withdraw, with the inclusion of Faticanti in midfield. The first half is painful for the Azzurri. Uruguay is immediately aggressive: high pressing and quick exchanges. Nunziata’s boys try to measure up to their opponents. The ‘Celeste’ tries from outside the area with Matturro (6′) and then with Diaz (10′). The minutes go by and Italy takes measures for the opponent.
In the 15th minute, Pafundi kicked a free-kick at the far post, where Ghilardi tried to make it in the centre, but found opposition from a defender. On 18′ Pafundi tries but without success. In the 23rd minute Uruguay came very close to scoring on the development of a corner kick: Duarte left too alone headed without fail and the blue goalkeeper Desplanches had an amazing reflex and avoided the goal. Uruguay continues to play with a speed and intensity superior to Italy, but is also very imprecise. At the beginning of the second half Nunziata changes Zanotti for Faticanti.
The inertia of the match does not change with Uruguay constantly in attack and Italy looking for space to restart. In the 11th minute Italy double substitution: Montevago and Esposito for Ambrosino and Pafundi, a choice, that of Nunziata, to give more weight in attack. Uruguay continues to attack: in the 19th and 22nd minutes it is the newcomer Ferrari who makes himself dangerous. On 26′ Diaz tries again but Desplanches saves without major problems. In the 35th minute Italy risks remaining in 10: Prati’s foul on Diaz initially punished with a red light by the referee is then reduced to yellow after the intervention of the Var. In the 41st minute the Uruguayan advantage arrives: on the developments of a corner, the blue defense remains too firm. The ball danced in the area and eventually landed on Rodriguez’s head who hit the net from close range and extinguished the Azzurri’s dreams of glory.
“They were better than us, they were physically better and they ran more than us. And the camp didn’t help us, but ours has been an incredible journey, and we just have to thank the guys for what they’ve done this month. This game doesn’t erase the good things done so far.” Thus to the Rai microphones the Italy Under 20 coach, Carmine Nunziata, commented on the final lost by the Azzurrini. “Playing seven games every three days isn’t easy – he added – today they were better than us on a physical level”.
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2023-06-12 05:26:19
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