Share

18 November 2019A Palermo Italy overwhelms Armenia 9-1 and, despite being already qualified and first in the group, has an impressive series of records together since the eleventh consecutive victory brought home by coach Mancini.

Mancini confirms the median line with Tonali and Barella at the sides of Jorginho, giving space to Sirigu in goal, Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Biraghi and Romagnoli in defense, Zaniolo and Immobile in the trident with Chiesa. Blue loads and overwhelming start: on the development of a punishment, Chiesa picks up the ball on the right, a splendid cross at the far post where Immobile takes the lead and leads Italy into the lead (8 '). A minute passes and there is immediately a high recovery in midfield and this time it is Immobile that receives centrally and sends Zaniolo into the center right of the area. First network in blue for the Romanist. At 18 'Immobile wastes an opportunity, then an Armenian flash: at the 22nd distraction of Bonucci, a lob from Karapetian from a distance but the riser saves Sirigu. Italy wants to play and at the 29th minute Bonucci feeds Barella who scores the set, on the 31st right of Chiesa and palo, on the 33rd fourth goal with Zaniolo serving Immobile. Lazio is not wrong. At the end of the first half of the Italian pole: Barella-Chiesa exchange, Immobile almost touches the hat-trick, his right splintering the far post. At the beginning of the second half Mancini gives space to the debutante Orsolini who replaces Barella. On the 55th minute another chance with Jorginho who cuts for Di Lorenzo who does not frame the goal in front of the goalkeeper. Church haunted evening. The purple in the 57th minute throws a great shot to shoot but the crossbar tells him again no. The rhythms, as is inevitable, slow down, but the score does not change: at 64 'Zaniolo's brace arrives. Jorginho leans against the limit and the powerful left-wing of the Romanist at the crossroads is unstoppable for Airapetyan. At 72 'the score becomes tennis: from corner, Izzo crushes head, Hayrapetyan rejects centrally, Romagnoli tap-in but the slaughter continues: at 74' Orsolini aims the area and is stretched by Hovhannisyan, penalty and the specialist Jorginho bags the seventh goal. At 77 'Meret made his debut in the goal instead of the inoperative Sirigu and it is an unlucky debut because Babayan shoots an almost unstoppable right for the goal of the Armenian flag. One minute before the eighth goal of the debutante Orsolini had arrived. At 81 'Church finally found the door with a winning header, it is an unprecedented 9-1 result, only at the 1948 London Olympics did Italy do better by beating the US 9-0.

The Azzurri, winning against Armenia, in addition to consolidating first place in the preliminary round, establish and equal, at least, 9 historical records: Eleventh consecutive victory in general; eleventh consecutive victory for a single coach, namely Mancini (improving Pozzo's 1938/39 absolute record already passed; more wins (13) for a single coach, that is Mancini, after the first 19 races (equaling Arrigo's record) Sacchi): record of consecutive victories (10) in a single elimination round for a European championship (absolute primacy), record of wins in consecutive races (14) valid for the elimination rounds for the European championships (absolute primacy), unbeaten record in consecutive races (40) valid for the elimination rounds for the European championships (absolute primacy), record of consecutive victories (10) in a calendar year (absolute primacy), absolute record of victories (10) in a calendar year (exceeding the record of 9 consecutive successes established in 1990 and equaled in 1994, 2000 and 2003); en plein with the greatest number of successes, 10 in a calendar year (absolute primacy).