06/13/2024 16:01
Italy wins another one, the second in a row. At the Futsal Week, an international tournament currently being held in Porec in Croatia, the Azzurre beat Poland 3-2, climbing to 6 points in the standings and by winning the triangular tournament they gain the pass for the semi-final (scheduled for Saturday at 4pm) where Coppari and teammates will face one of Croatia and Finland, at 4 pm playing against each other in the last match of group B.
Compared to the comfortable 13-0 against Greenland, Italy plays a real game against Poland. A continuous back and forth, in the progress of the score, but also in every clash on the pitch, in every opportunity created. A balance that is broken only by Alessia Grieco’s goal 2’50” from the final siren: the goal of the Bitonto player – fresh champion of Italy – comes thanks to a recovered ball, her classic feint with the sole and a angled right hand that leaves no chance for Myjak, motionless between the posts. It’s the 3-2 that hands the keys to the match to Italy (who will suffer a free throw in the last two minutes, kicked wide by Bala) after a long back and forth. In fact, the first half ends 1-0 for Poland thanks to Kubaszek’s goal in the 15th minute, then in the second half (in the 6th minute) Greta Ghilardi, after an insistent action, finds the equalizer. However, the Poles took the lead again with a super personal action by Bala and the following tap-in by Fronczak (15th minute), but there was no time to celebrate and Ferrara ‘fired’ a great left-footed shot for the new equaliser. From there Grieco’s goal was born, which was worth the final 3-2, but not without suffering.
Difficulties and suffering are part of the journey, as coach Francesca Salvatore recalls: “The average level is growing in an incredible way. Between the European Championship and now the World Cup, everyone is gearing up and no one should be underestimated. In terms of physically we find very strong teams, as Poland was today and as Croatia or Finland will be (as mentioned, one of the two will be the opponent in the semi-final, ed., our opponents are also very organised, intense and tidy. For all these reasons I am happy with the entire progress of the match. It was a European Qualifiers match: in the sense that it was true, from all points of view. I like to underline the collective and the good mental strength despite a not a perfect approach, as well as that maturity we talked about after the match against Greenland, which was also evident today: the girls were always attentive, always involved in the match. Finally, in addition to praising the excellent team work, we must mention both the magic moment of Nicoletta Mansueto, who after winning the best player award in the last Scudetto final a few days ago, also today brought out an exemplary performance, and the match of Greta Ghilardi, who imposes physique and vision of the game as if was a veteran, scoring in one of the most delicate moments of the match.”
Futsal Week, the competition program
Tuesday 11 June
Greenland-Poland 1-12
Morocco-Finland 2-4
Wednesday 12 June
Italy-Greenland 13-0
Croatia-Morocco 4-3
Thursday 13 June
Poland-Italy 2-3
Croatia-Finland, 4pm
Ranking after the 3rd day
Group A: Italy 6, Poland 3, Greenland 0
Group B: Finland and Croatia 3, *Morocco 0
*one more game
Saturday 15 June
Final 5th-6th place, Greenland-Morocco at 11.45am
Semifinal 1, Italy-Second Group B at 4pm
Semifinal 2, Winner of Group B-Poland at 6pm
Sunday 16 June
3rd place final, 4pm
1st place final, 6pm
@FIGC
