2023-06-16 00:04:55
Joselu in sight, Bonucci inside. AFP / JOHN THYS / AFP / KENZO TRIBOUILLARD
TOPS/FLOPS – Spain can thank their new “supersub” Joselu and the inevitable Rodri, Italy did not hold back with Bonucci and Acerbi.
TOPS
Rodri does the Istanbul stunt again
Discreet in the first half, the Manchester City sentry came out of hiding late in the game. Real poison in the midfield in the recovery and conservation of the ball, it was with a powerful strike that he changed the course of the match. As against Inter Milan last Saturday, well placed, Rodri tried his luck and his billiard shot ended up at the feet of Joselu who gave the advantage to the Spaniards. New man of the match trophy after that of Saturday’s final in the Champions League.
Joselu the new supersub from La Roja
The beautiful story continues for Joselu. Author of a good season with Espanyol de Barcelona (16 goals), the 32-year-old center-forward tasted late in the national team but in the best way. Already a double scorer at the end of the game against Norway for his very first selection, he did it again against Italy 5 minutes after coming on like a fox from the surfaces to send La Roja to the Nations League final.
Rodrigo finds his legs
Disappeared from the radar after an average season on the collective level with Leeds recently relegated to English D2, Rodrigo blasted the right flank of La Roja with the stainless Jesus Navas throughout the first act by posing serious problems to the Italian hinge. Replaced at half-time by Asensio, the ardor of the 32-year-old winger was greatly missed by Jose Luis De La Fuente’s men in the second period.
FLOPS
Bonucci and Acerbi overtaken
Italy has taken on water behind, symbol of an aging and slow hinge that patiently awaits the arrival of a new generation. With Bonucci (36 years old), Toloi (32 years old) and Acerbi (35 years old), the Squadra Azzurra panicked in the axis. Beyond the loss of the forbidden ball by his captain at the start of the match, costing Mancini’s men the opener, as soon as the ball approached Donnarumma’s cage, the defenders in white fell back and cleared in the panic.
The Norman misses his first
The Franco-Spanish seemed feverish on the De Grolsh Veste lawn in the Netherlands. Unlucky, the central defender let his hand drag and provoked a penalty after a completely missed recovery from Zaniolo. He did not commit any more notable errors thereafter but his approximate raises and his bad placement could have condemned his people. The Real Sociedad player missed his first meeting and will try to deliver a better copy this Sunday for the final.
The game at the foot of the goalkeepers
Solid on their line and decisive in the second half, the last ramparts of the two evening nations challenged their defense each time they touched the ball. Donnarumma guilty at the start of the match with a badly controlled recovery and disaster clearances and Unai Simon in his lack of anticipation and his lack of serenity on the ball. The two goalkeepers have once again shown that they are better with the ball in hand.
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