ISERLOHN (Germany) – When Spalletti invited the Azzurri to remain compact and orderly, because the entire recovery was missing and he saw the possibility of regaining the draw, Calafiori received a very heavy yellow card but inevitable. Croatia was flying away on the counterattack and it would have been a lethal blow to get the second goal. Not only did it mean nullifying the possibility of a comeback, but it would have complicated the race for the repechage among the worst third-placed teams, worsening the overall goal difference. The Bologna centre-back, seeing the defense exposed, entered as an experienced and personality player does. Italy, leaning forward, was taking a risk. It was almost the ninetieth and would only materialize eight minutes after the equalizer. Offensive projection by Riccardo and right-footed support towards Zaccagni in the right position to put the ball into the top corner. Assist and gesture of extreme difficulty. Calafiori avoided Sutalo’s tackle, almost launching himself into a tackle on a ball he was about to lose. A fraction of a second and the advance on the outgoing Croatian. And then the vision of the game to pass the ball with the right foot, not his foot, in the confusion of that moment. There were just 7 seconds left in the match. He saw where the game was opening up. Midfielder’s look, how Spalletti thinks he can play. Universal player. Here is Italy’s new man, the true invention of Lucio, called up and included among the thirty for the training camp in Coverciano at the end of May without him having yet made his debut. He became the starter in the running. A surprise but not too much. Good, very good and authoritative. Not just with a polite foot in handling the ball. It’s not great to lose it at the best moment.
Mancini and Good morning
Unfortunately, the Dutchman Makkelie did not forgive him. The former Roma player, who grew up in Balduina, was on a warning. He was weighed by the warning he received against Albania on his debut in the group. The yellow card will cost him the round of 16. No Switzerland. Riccardo will only be able to fly to Berlin as a tourist and an exceptional fan. He must serve a one-match ban. The only possibility for his European Championship not to be over: to eliminate Nati and fly to the quarter-finals. Now, however, he can only train and wait. From today Spalletti will start thinking about how to replace him. Two solutions: Mancini or Good morning, perhaps both with Bastoni in the center if he opts for the three-man defense and does not want to confirm Darmian. We will see. It’s too early to say anything and it’s better not to make any predictions. You risk making a bad impression. There are three training sessions left until the Berlin match and today Italy, after the day of rest, will resume preparation.
Training doubts
We challenge anyone to name the module, because perhaps they don’t know it and not even Spalletti decided to. It will depend on Switzerland, on how Yakin moves, on how he should oppose himself and which duels he will choose. The 3-5-2 gave solidity with Croatia, the liveliness of Zaccagni and Chiesa on the outside lanes in the last quarter of an hour would suggest the possibility of a return to the 4-3-3, a structure abandoned after the qualification was snatched in November because the Azzurri stretched too far on the pitch. Italy is growing, but continuous change slows down the habit and predisposition to find codified movements. Dimarco’s condition will need to be checked, as he recovered at the last minute and was forced to come out in the sixtieth minute. Now there are three players within a booking (Donnarumma, Cristante and Pellegrini), but the quarter-finals are a very distant thought.
