the dream ofItalia continues. In one fell swoop, the National qualifies for the quarterfinals of World U20 and avenge the defeat against theEngland in the semifinal of the last U19 European Championship. At the “Maradona” stadium in La Plata, the goals of Thomas Baldanzi e Cesare Casadei (penalty) have given the team of Carmine Nunziata a place among the top eight in the world: next opponent, Saturday at 11 pm Italian time in San Juan, la Colombia, who overwhelmed Slovakia 5-1 in their eighth. Out, among others, also the landlords of Argentina, defeated by Nigeria. “It was a great game, played in front of an audience that cheered us on and that I want to thank – commented Nunziata -. We are happy to have taken revenge for last year’s defeat, but above all to go ahead in this competition. We not only held the pitch, but also played a good game, against a strong team that arrived here as European champions.”
England-Italy 1-2
Nunziata gave a starting shirt to Fontanarosa given the disqualification of Ghilardi. Front bench for At the bottomwith Baldanzi behind Esposito e Ambrosino. In England, however, debut for Chukwuemeka, arrived in Argentina after running out of commitments with Chelsea. Italy took the lead after eight minutes with two individual plays, one more beautiful than the other: an assist from a full-back by Ambrosino and a forward touch by Baldanzi, who took away Cox’s time. England’s response with a diagonal of Joseph blocked by deplanches. Devine’s attempt in the quarter of an hour was much more dangerous, with the ball kicked with his left foot by the Tottenham player who hit the crossbar. Very inspired by Baldanzi: personal action by the Empoli playmaker (21′) stopped by Cox’s save. Three minutes later the English equalizer arrived: action developed on the left, a cross by Scarlett and right-footed volley by Devine who anticipated Fontanarosa and beat Desplanches. Up until the break, the match remained balanced, with a slow pace and no further opportunities.
Baldanzi: “I owe a lot to Empoli, but you also need luck. Are the big names looking for me? I can’t believe it”
by Matteo Pinci
31 Maggio 2023
Casadei penalty decisive
A balance that also continued at the start of the second half: Casadei finished just wide on an assist from Ambrosino (but the assistant’s flag had gone up) then, in the 61st minute, Italy went shooting again with Wash, but the Spal midfielder’s right foot was deflected for a corner. In the 74th minute, Nunziata’s first substitution: Ambrosino out, in Montevago, to try with fresh energy to change a match that was also affected by the conditions of the playing field. In the 83rd minute, however, the decisive episode occurred: Casadei’s left-footed shot from the edge, the referee was called to the monitor by the Var for a handball by Quansah and pointed to the floppy disk. Casadei himself took the ball and kicked it behind Cox, scoring his fifth goal in four World Cup matches after braces against Brazil and the Dominican Republic. The maxi-recovery of 11 minutes was inevitable: Italy gritted its teeth, Foster also entered Doyle ed Correctbut in the end he rejoiced, and remains in Argentina to pursue a dream.
Italy-England match sheet
ENGLAND-ITALY 1-2
Rarely: 8′ pt Baldanzi, 24′ Devine, 42′ st rig. Casadei,
England (3-4-2-1): Cox – Quansah (52′ st Delap), Edwards, Humpreys (54′ st Doyle) – Norton-Cuffy (18′ st Oyegoke), Scott, Chukwuemeka, Vale (54′ st Edozie) – Joseph (18′ st Gyabi), Devine – Scarlett. All. Foster.
Italia (4-3-1-2): Desplanches – Zanotti, Fontanarosa, Guarino, Turicchia – Prati, Faticanti, Casadei – Baldanzi (48′ st Young) – Esposito (48′ st Fiumanò), Ambrosino (29′ st Montevago). All. Nunziata.
Referee: Abbati (Brazil),
Note: yellow cards for Fontanarosa and Quansah.
