Sarajevo (AFP)
Italy, by winning without trembling on Wednesday in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0, validated its ticket for the final four-man tournament of the League of Nations, of which it will be the host nation in October 2021.
In an ideal position after beating Poland (2-0) on Sunday, Italy finished the job in Sarajevo against a Bosnia already promised to relegation and diminished by several absences due to Covid-19, including its star striker Edin Dzeko.
Andrea Belotti, with the tip of his foot on a center of Lorenzo Insigne, put the Italians in orbit from the 22nd minute, with his 10th goal in selection, his first for a year, already in Bosnia.
After several 2-0 balls wasted by the Azzurri, Domenico Berardi finally sheltered his family, well served by Manuel Locatelli for a 100% Sassuolo goal (68th).
Compared to Sunday, Berardi (in place of Bernadeschi) was also the only change in the starting XI of Roberto Mancini, coach still stuck at home due to coronavirus and replaced on the bench by his assistant Alberico Evani.
Despite the absences (Verratti, Bonucci, Chiellini, Immobile, Chiesa, Zaniolo, Sensi, Kean ...), this Italy carried by the legs of Insigne, Barella, Belotti and Locatelli and the solidity of Jorginho, Donnarumma and Florenzi (released at the break) showed that she had reserve and desire.
After the brilliant qualifications for the next Euro (ten wins in ten matches), the course in the League of Nations has certainly been more winding (three wins, three draws).
But the Azzurri, in confidence, did not tremble when they were back to the wall, in the Netherlands (1-0) in September as in this month of November.
And above all they have stretched their invincibility to now 22 matches (no defeat in 2019 or in 2020) and garnered some more certainties for the Euro, of which they will play the opening match in Rome against Turkey in June.
For the Nations League "Final-4" in October 2021, the host cities will be Milan and Turin, if UEFA confirms, as expected, Italy as host country.
© 2020 AFP