Ninety minutes of agony and missed chances, then two headers, from Mancini and Pio Esposito, gave Italy their fifth win of the Gattuso era in the end, away to Moldova. A 2-0 scoreline in Chisinau doesn’t do much good in a World Cup, considering Norway’s big win over Estonia is the norm. Between Haaland and qualification there is only a mathematical certainty, just as Italy’s play-offs must now be confirmed via Sunday’s live match at the Meazza, against goal machine Norway. The Azzurri’s 9-0 scoreline was needed to overturn the goal difference rankings (+29 for Norway, +12 for the Azzurri) and pull off a direct passing miracle. Macroscopic data shows a lot of difficulties in the Italian group. The night in Moldova instead had a backdrop of chants from a small group of fans following (“go to work”) as the 0-0 score remained unsolved. “Shame”, shouted Gattuso at the end of the match, happy with the response of the many players who were tested in the national team which had changed a lot.
Experimenting towards the play offs, expanding the player base, waiting for the prestige test against Norway. In Chisinau, Italy took to the field learning of Norway’s win over Estonia, which effectively made it impossible for Milan to achieve. So, in Kean’s absence, the match against Moldova was an opportunity for the coach to test himself in attack and in other departments as well. As usual, Gattuso fielded an offensive national team, a 4-2-4 formation with Zaccagni and Orsolini on the attack side and the Scamacca-Raspadori pair on the front line. Under the bar there is space for Vicario, in midfield Cristante is paired with Tonali. Italy started strongly and controlled the game throughout the first half, they created chances but they didn’t materialize, as space was tight and the attacking pair never found the right gaps. Orsolini and Zaccagni exploited the flanks and in the first half hour the game was all-out against Cojuhar, the Macedonian goalkeeper who controlled several balls but denied them all. After the 5th minute, a good combination with Scamacca put a good ball into Raspadori’s left foot, outside the halfway point, but it was saved with his feet. The centre-forward made his move, launching a right-footed shot that was deflected from the outside with the tip of his hand in the 11th minute, and a minute later Raspadori tried again.
The ball went to Zaccagni’s head brilliantly in the 21st minute, but the Lazio player got in the way with Raspadori and put it out. The ball landed sensationally at Mancini’s feet as he fired a shot high in the 26th minute in front of goal following a rebound from Orsolini’s free kick. The sensation of a possible Macedonia lead also emerged when around half an hour later interference from a corner freed Postolachi in front of goal, who also fired high. Cristante tried in the 40th minute, his right footed shot from outside grazed the goal post. The second half repeated the scenario, and at the 6th minute change of play Cambiaso had a good ball in front of goal on the right, but passed it to the goalkeeper who blocked the shot. Minutes later it was Scamacca who created the right vertical space, his right-footed shot from the edge being deflected by the defence. It was time for a change, and after 20 minutes the attacking pair changed: Retegui-Pio Esposito for Scamacca-Raspadori. Blue siege final. After Tonali’s shot from the edge (25′) was blocked by the goalkeeper’s fist, the first ball fell straight to Retegui’s head which was spinning weakly. In his turn in front of goal, Pio Esposito had a slight lead in the 28th minute. Dimarco also brought on Cambiaso and Politano for Orsolini, and the latter immediately put a good ball into the feet of Pio Esposito, but the turn in the 32nd minute was on poniere. Inter’s young center forward immediately had another chance, his right foot shot was open from the edge and the ball went wide. Frattesi came on, space at the back opened up and Italy took risks, but just when everything seemed to be blocked, Mancini’s superb header arrived in the 43rd minute which went into the goal and silenced the protesters. A few minutes passed and Pio Esposito, still with his head, scored 2-0 from Politano’s cross. Gattuso rejoiced and growled at the dissatisfaction of Italian fans.
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