A dream Italy. What's up round of XNUMX with one round to spare, even if not from before ("fault" of Wales, victorious over Turkey), but above all it offers another evening of great football, made up of goals, entertainment and a lot, a lot, heart. If before yesterday enthusiasm was already high, now it's even skyrocketing, thanks to an even better performance than that of Friday: against the Turks it took an own goal to break a dangerous balance, against the Swiss instead it was a show from start to finish, so much so that not even Chiellini's disallowed goal, and his subsequent injury, managed to scratch him.
In short, the Azzurri enchant as if they were Brazil or Spain in the best of times and this, in the light of the recent past (but also of our defensive habits), gives us enormous satisfaction, even if a little destabilizing. Thanks to all, Mancini in the lead: the treatment of him, after the devastating Ventura experience, has borne even unexpected results, as shown by the numbers, for once absolutely truthful. THE 29 consecutive useful hits speak for themselves, as well as the last 10 matches, in which Italy scored 31 goals without conceding even one.
“It was a very tough match, Switzerland is a strong team – commented the blue coach – We could have scored earlier, we suffered when there was to suffer, but in the end it's a deserved victory. I dedicate this victory to all Italians and to all those who are suffering right now, we'll see the rest. Favorite France? There are national teams that are ahead of us in terms of growth, but anything can happen in football. This Italy can grow, I repeat: there are many young players, the margins are large”.
Words that seem made for Manuel Locatelli, man of the match of a night that, we can bet, he will never forget. The Sassuolo midfielder, in the odor of Juve, gave very high school numbers, starting with the splendid 1-0 goal, which arrived shortly after the cancellation of the Chiellini one, canceled for an evident touch with the arm. The captain, in addition to the hoax just mentioned, then had to surrender to yet another muscle problem of his season (more will be known after the exams tomorrow), but this did not affect Italy's security, which continued to to dominate an even defenseless Switzerland.
There Locatelli rose to the chair, capable of finalizing an action created by himself: opening with a screaming volley assist for Berardi, insertion without the ball and winning tap-in on an assist from his teammate (both in the club and in the national team ) to blow up the 16 thousand at the Olimpico (26'). That's all? Not a chance. Locatelli, who turned 23 in January, did it again at the start of the second half with a left footed shot in the bottom corner that left Sommer (52') stoned and, at the same time, sent the Azzurri into orbit, at that point in fact qualified for the round of XNUMX of final.
“I want to enjoy it all, I'm proud and this group is fantastic – the neroverde midfielder exclaimed happily – The first goal? A pinch of madness, I usually never accompany the action like this, it was wonderful with the assist from my friend Berardi. I'm happy to be here, I've worked so hard."
Switzerland's reaction was all in two shots from Zummer saved by Donnarumma, against an overflowing Italy, which created numerous chances for the 3-0. Which didn't arrive with Berardi (65 ', left foot slightly high) and, twice, with Property (73' and 75', two excellent missed opportunities), until Ciro himself, supported by his Olimpico, found the right shot (with the complicity of Sommer) to round up the result and certify the Azzurri's triumph.
"In my name and on behalf of the whole team, I wanted to dedicate the victory and the goal to Daniel and David, two angels who are no longer with us - the touching words of Ciro, in reference to the victims of Ardea - It is right to send a hug everywhere they are, we would have liked to have also attended the funeral but due to the 'bubble' we were unable”. Beautiful words, testifying that this group, perhaps, will not have top-tier international stars, but certainly such a big heart. That's enough for now, assisted by the excellent work of Mancini and some hard-to-predict exploits. Are we sure, for example, that Verratti, a player with 67 appearances in the Champions League, can take away this Locatelli's place? A legitimate question, to which Mancini will evidently answer on the pitch. After all, the right to decide without being contested has been amply earned.
