Hearts held high (but not yet glasses) and adjectives firmly planted on the ground. Ultimately, the ninth in the Fifa rankings defeated the number 66 5-2. No more, no less. North Macedonia had become, in the popular imagination, a sort of witch that led those who should have burned it to the stake. Honoring the prediction (and the game), Luciano Spalletti’s Italy swept them away. Alleluia! We cannot help but start from the success at the Olimpico to introduce the ordeal at 8.45pm on Monday, on neutral ground in Leverkusen, against Ukraine. It is the last stage towards the German European Championship in 2024: immediately or in the playoffs. We have the same points (13), but the 2-1 at San Siro, signed by Davide Frattesi’s brace, gives us the umbrella of a draw. Metaphor aside: two results out of three. Watch out, however, for “acute chalcolitis”. In the past, he has often fooled us. Fortunately, the abbot of Certaldo is someone who doesn’t care. He aims for maneuver, courage, the desire to transfer the beauty of his Napoli to the national team. Different, perhaps: just as the actors are different. But always on the cover.
