In the early morning of June 25th, Beijing time, in the third round of Group B of the European Cup group stage, Italy tied with Croatia 1-1 in stoppage time and qualified as second in the group. It experienced a process from despair to paradise. Let's review the game together:
In the first half, Croatia controlled the ball as expected before the game, but Italy, which had a lower ball possession rate, got more shooting opportunities, but the striker couldn't grasp it. Sucic's long shot was saved by Donnarumma, and Bastoni's header from close range was also resolved by the Croatian goalkeeper. The two halves ended 0-0.
The highlight of the second half came. In the 52nd minute, Kramaric's shot hit Fratesi's hand. The referee determined that a penalty kick was awarded. Modric's penalty was saved by Donnarumma, and then he shot a supplementary shot. scored. Donnarumma angrily scolded his teammates, and the balance of victory tilted towards Croatia. Italy wanted to attack but it was all in vain. As the 8-minute stoppage time came to an end, Calafiore advanced and Zacani scored the game-tying goal, and then the referee blew the whistle to end the game. Italy experienced a transformation from region to paradise, while Croatia failed to qualify from the group stage.
Croatia suffered a draw in stoppage time in two consecutive games. It can be seen that being conservative after taking the lead is the original sin. Next, let’s briefly analyze the game.
Although Italy scored 1 point in a draw, Italy's performance throughout the game was really lagging. You must know that the situation of this group is very defending. Although they can ensure qualifying with a draw, their opponent Croatia needs to win. , so Croatia will definitely try its best to win. Then Italy's opportunity will come. Before the game, it was predicted that Italy will play three defenders and seek counterattack opportunities. As long as they hold on, Croatia will become more and more anxious. In this way, Italy Will take the initiative.
Unfortunately, Italy played very conservatively. Croatia was afraid of long passes and tough style of play, but Italy did not put too much pressure on Croatia during the game.
Croatia still chose the familiar 433 formation for this campaign, while Italy chose 3142. Spalletti's formation was expected, but their conservative playing style in order to maintain a draw was puzzling, although they had three points. , but there is no advantage in goal difference, even if Spain defeated Albania in another game. Italy is also likely to be eliminated third in the group.
Of course, in the past matches between the two teams, the Grid Legion had certain advantages, but they have passed their golden period and are no longer at their peak. Italy can definitely use this game to get back a win and have better conditions, but the process is really disappointing. Puzzling. Judging from the lineup, Italy is indeed not as good as Croatia, and the game also played out this way. Italy's forwards and midfielders were almost useless. Except for Donnaluna, Barrera, Bastoni and Dimarco, everyone else performed poorly.
can actually understand Spalletti's deployment, but the process did not develop in the direction they wanted. It was Italy that had more shots in the half, and they had more shooting opportunities with less ball possession. , but the counterattack effect is not good. It was difficult for Donnarumma. After saving Modric's penalty kick, he ultimately failed to defend Modric's shot. However, this cannot be blamed on him. The Italian defense needs to bear a certain amount of responsibility. Italy, known for its iron-blooded defense in the past, has lost its tradition. Italy conceded the first goal in all three group matches of the European Cup, and its defensive counterattack tactics are inefficient. Even if Italy is lucky enough to qualify, it may be difficult to reproduce the miracle of the 2020 European Cup.
This Italian team has too many problems, especially the offensive end, which is almost stretched, and its defensive ability has also declined a lot compared to before. It is definitely not bad luck to miss the World Cup. In fact, you can know the clues from this big lineup. As a traditional giant team in Europe, Italy's star is gradually dimming, and the competitiveness of domestic leagues is also declining. These chain reactions have created the current situation in Italy.
After the game, Spalletti was questioned. It is taboo to change the formation on the spot. They should have firmly held the initiative in their own hands. After all, the strength of the Croatian team they are facing has declined a lot. Italy follows the normal rhythm. The bottom line is to maintain a tie and win. Fortunately, they did it.
Croatia is a bit sad. It is a fact that it has passed its peak, but the head coach's arrangements are also somewhat inappropriate. Croatia is not bad, especially with rich experience in competitions. This is their advantage. In the last game against Albania, their opponent lost a stoppage time. Ping, this is the case again, which has a big impact on the confidence of the players. After being eliminated from this European Cup, Croatia needs to complete the replacement of old and new players as soon as possible. They can no longer count on these players to continue to create brilliance.
Heaven and hell are often in the blink of an eye. Italy got a lucky point and entered the knockout stage. Can they go further?
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