Greece-Italy 0-1
GOALS: 18’pt Esposito.
GREECE (3-4-1-2): Vlachodimos 6.5; Retsos 5.5, Hatzidiakos 6, Koulierakis 5.5 (1’st Rota 6); Vagiannidis 5 (31’st Tetteh 6.5), Triantis 5.5 (17’st Androutsos 6), Mouzakitis 6 (31’st Zafeiris 6), Kiriakopoulos 6 (17’st Tsimikas 6); Tzolis 6.5 (43’st Pavlidis 6.5); Masouras 5 (17’st Kyziridis 6), Douvikas 5.5 (43’st Kostoulas sv). On the bench: Tzolakis, Mandas, Mavropanos, Kourbelis, Kontouris, Ntoi. Coach: Jovanovic 5.5
ITALY (4-3-3): Donnarumma 6.5; Ahanor 6 (1’st Mane 6.5), Comuzzo 7 (10’st Reggiani 5.5), Chiarodia 7, Bartesaghi 7; Pisilli 7, Lipani 6.5 (29’st Dagasso 6.5), Ndour 7; Koleosho 7 (42’st Faticanti sv), Esposito 7.5 (42’st Camarda sv), Ekhator 6 (1’st Fini 6.5) (29’st Favasuli 6.5). On the bench: Daffara, Palmisani, Fortini, Cacciamani, Berti, Inacio. Coach: Baldini 7.
REFEREE: Yigal Frid (Israel) 6.
NOTES: pitch in good condition. Reggiani was sent off in the 23rd minute for a foul on a clear scoring opportunity. Booked: Lipani, Ahanor, Favasuli. Corners 1-3. Recovery 3’pt, 5’st.
HERAKLION (GREECE) – Two victories out of two. Italy also wins in Greece: the final result is 1-0, once again Pio Esposito decided the match. The cycle of the two friendlies for the Azzurri comes to an end, awaiting the new president of the FIGC and the new technical commissioner who will take charge of the national team in view of the next Nations League, which will begin in September. But the positive signs came from the young Italy built for the occasion by Silvio Baldini. Before kick-off, a minute of silence was observed for Marios Oikonomou, the Greek footballer who died in a car accident in recent days and in Italy wearing the shirts of, among others, Bologna and Sampdoria. Interim coach Baldini confirmed nine elevenths of the lineup lined up against Luxembourg, the only changes concerned the right wing – Ahanor in place of Favasuli – and the attacking trident, with Ekhator replacing the injured Cherubini (muscle strain). The hosts responded with a 3-4-1-2, with Tzolis in the attacking midfield and Masouras in support of Douvikas, protagonist this year with the Como shirt. Jovanovic’s team immediately raised the pace, the first dangerous incursion was that of Douvikas himself, however closed by Comuzzo.
Two minutes later, in the 18th minute, Italy took the lead once again with Pio Esposito: the number 9 controlled the ball in the area, Hatzidiakos’s deflection deceiving his goalkeeper was decisive. The Inter striker scored his fifth goal in nine appearances for Italy. The Azzurri played with greater calm than in the first half against Luxembourg, with different game patterns expressed by the young Under 21 players called up by Silvio Baldini. In the second half Koleosho returned to the left, with Fini replacing Ekhator: after a few moments the first ring, then the Paris FC striker, on loan from Burnley, hit the crossbar, almost doubling the lead. In the 10th minute of the second half Comuzzo came off due to a calf muscle problem, in his place was Reggiani, the 17th debutant in the national team. Greece struggled to create opportunities, the Azzurri managed without forcing and trying to apply Baldini’s tactical principles. Reggiani’s first match in the blue shirt lasted 13 minutes: in the 23rd minute the Dortmund defender was sent off for a last man foul. In the final minutes the match got tougher, Italy – considered the man less – tried to defend the 1-0, Greece tried to sink to find an equaliser.
In the 39th minute Zafeiris kicked with first intention, but the Paok midfielder hit the post. In the 41st minute Favasuli responded but the curling shot was deflected for a corner by Vlachodimos. Faticanti also made his debut late on, Greece came close to equalizing with Pavlidis, Donnarumma’s save being decisive.