Paris (AFP)
Convincing, Italy won in the Netherlands (1-0) and took the lead of its League of Nations group on Monday, day of the first - magnificent - international double of the great Norwegian hope Erling Haaland, in Ireland of the North (5-1).
This time it is, Italy is back.
Dominating then solid defensively, Squadra Azzura has developed a pleasant offensive game to, true to itself, win with the smallest of differences, thanks to a header from Nicolo Barella after a great collective action (45th + 1).
With this victory against a major football nation, the first for many months, Italy and its attacking triforce Loreno Insigne - Ciro Immobile - Nicolo Zaniolo proves that the non-qualification for the 2018 World Cup is definitely digested.
At the end of the match, Italian grumpers Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci and young AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma kept the advantage against Memphis Depay and his family.
In the classification of this group 1 of League A, Italy (4 pts), unbeaten for 16 matches, takes the lead ahead of Oranje (3 pts) and Poland, who woke up (2-1) thanks to a goal from former Monaco Kamil Glik after being led to Bosnia-Herzegovina (4th, 1 pt).
For his part, if he plays in League B of this League of Nations, Erling Haaland has shown that he deserves a capital A. Three days after unlocking his international counter for his 3rd selection against Austria (2-1 defeat ), the Dortmund scorer did it again with, this time, his first double.
Ten out of ten for the comeback of the 20-year-old Norwegian, who offered as a bonus an assist for his attacking friend Alexander Sorloth (24), author of a double also against a weak Northern Ireland.
Norway (3rd, 3 pts) goes to author of Austria (2nd, 3 pts), who lost against Romania on Monday (1st, 4 pts).
Also in League B, Scotland took control of Group 2 after winning (1-2) in the Czech Republic.
This is the first time since 2000 that the Scots have won an away match after conceding the first goal, notes statistician Opta.
© 2020 AFP