BERGAMO (ITALPRESS) – Italy wins 2-0 against Northern Ireland and flies in the final playoff for qualifying for World Cup 2026. In Bergamo, the networks of Tonali and Kean were decisive in the second half. The ct Gennaro Gattuso confirmed the expectations of the eve by deploying the 3-5-2 and confirming the eleven hypothesized on the eve, with Kean and Retegui to make couple in attack supported by Barella, Locatelli and Tonali in the middle of the field. On the outer lanes Dimarco and Politano, with the trio Mancini-Bastoni-Calafiori for protection of Donnarumma. O’Neill has deployed a mirrored formation, with Donley only offensive reference and Price on the trequarti, but above all an undertone formation waiting for the blues, immediately started with the foot pressed on the accelerator. The first real occasion happened in Kean, but the position shot was deviated in a corner: on the developments it tried Tonali di testa, but the pallonetto touched the crossroads of the poles. The blues have tried us again with a maneuvered action, but Charles’s rimpallo – at the conclusion of Dimarco – deceived Retegui, who underport failed to reiterate on the net. After a compelling start, Gattuso’s boys began to slam against the Northern Irish wall, the eleven of O’Neill remained in their midfield waiting for error and subsequent reparation.
In the fourth of the final hour Italy began to change strategy trying to exploit the kicks placed, at 33′ Bastoni tried to head, but the trajectory was deviated again by Spencer. Occasions in sequence also for Retegui and Kean, but it is not enough to unlock the score.
In the Gattuso shoot decided to reconfirm the initial eleven, the blues started with the same piglio of the first fraction, but the Northern Ireland did not come out while remaining faithful to the initial game plan. At 8′ Retegui, a colossal occasion has been devoured, on an incorrect reverse of the opposing defense, the former Atalanta has stretched too much the ball.
On the next action the diagonal of Kean was deviated into corner football once again by Charles. The Northern Irish fort collapsed at 11’ when after a series of Tonali rebounds, from the boundary of the area, found the conclusion of 1-0.
A few minutes later, Kean had another chance to double, but the Fiorentina striker once again found the road landed. Ten minutes from the end came 2-0: Pio Esposito, who entered the place of Retegui, protected the ball, Tonali served Kean who at the fourth occasion closed the match with a winning diagonal.
At the end of the challenge the Blue Party, with Gattuso acclaimed by the whole stadium. A minute of silence was observed in honour of Giuseppe Savoldi, who died today at the age of 79. In the forum there are all the Italian football authorities, starting with President Gabriele Gravina.
– photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
Tonali-Kean launch Italy, blue in the final at the World Play-offs
