Rome (AFP)

An experimental Italy, without its usual holders, strolled against a very weak Moldova (6-0), Wednesday in Florence, the opportunity for the newcomers to show themselves and for El Shaawary to sign his first double with the Azzurri .

This B team, without Verratti, Immobile, Chiesa, Bonucci and others, continued their unbeaten streak with now 17 consecutive matches without defeat (14 wins, 3 draws).

But the main thing was not there for the coach Roberto Mancini: before the two Nations League matches in Poland and against the Netherlands, he took advantage of this friendly to offer himself a wide review of the troops and involve very largely his group eight months before Euro-2021.

"I saw a lot of interesting things. We had some difficulties at the start, but it's quite normal given all the changes of players, but the mentality is good, it went well," he said. he pointed out after the game on the RAI.

Stephan El Shaarawy (Shanghai Shenhua), to whom he entrusted the captain's armband, gave him this sign of confidence with a double, his first in the national team, in subtlety for the first (30th) and with an angry head for the second (45 + 1st) which allowed Italy to win the locker room with five goals in advance.

The night was one of the firsts: first goal for Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante (18th), first selection and first goal for Sassuolo striker Francesco Caputo (23rd), first goal for Sassuolo teammate Domenico Berardi (72nd) and first selections for the Cagliari Cragno goalkeeper, who entered the second half.

Italy will regain a more famous face for the rest of this busy international period.

With in particular the returns of Bonucci and Chiellini, who had been in isolation with their partners at the Juventus hotel since Saturday after two cases of Covid-19 in the club but received authorization on Wednesday evening to join the selection.

At the top of its group in the League of Nations after the September matches, Italy (4 points) travels to Poland (3 pts) on Sunday, then will host the Netherlands (3 pts) in Bergamo in a week.

© 2020 AFP