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02 September 2021 53 days after the triumph of Wembley, the European champion Italy does not go beyond the 1-1 with Bulgaria in Florence in a match valid for the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup. For the Azzurri, who always remain in head to group C, there is still the satisfaction of having equaled the record of 35 games without defeat that belongs to Spain and Brazil. And already Sunday in Basel against Switzerland there is an opportunity to increase the positive streak and keep the Swiss who follow us at a safe distance in the standings, 4 points behind, even if with one race less.
At the 'Franchi' there are two novelties compared to the European final in London for Mancini. The coach lined up Alessandro Florenzi and Andrea Acerbi from 1 'in place of Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Giorgio Chiellini. For the rest, the eleven who beat England in the European final with Gigio Donnarumma in goal confirmed; Leonardo Bonucci and Emerson to complete the defense; Niccolò Barella, Jorginho and Marco Verratti in midfield; Federico Chiesa, Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne in the attack trident. Petrov, Bulgaria coach, lines up his team with 4-4-1-1: Georgiev; A.Hristov, Antov, P. Hristov, Nedyalkov; Kostadinov, Vitanov, Yankov Despodov; Yomov; A.Iliev. Attempts by Insigne and Despodov, just before the blue advantage in the 16 ': Chiesa receives on the right wing, jumps a couple of opponents and focuses,he finds an involuntary triangle with the Bulgarian defender A.Hristov who, in anticipating Immobile, 'needs' a perfect ball, then a surgical left-footed shot from the edge of the black and white who beats the goalkeeper Georgiev, 1-0. Italy in control, but, surprisingly, the Bulgarian peer arrives on the counterattack: on the left Despodov wins the duel in speed with Florenzi arrives on the bottom and puts a nice cross for Atanas Iliev, the Ascoli striker anticipates Bonucci and beats Donnarumma, 1-1 (39 '). At the end of the first half Italy very close to the new advantage on Insigne's personal play, but the goalkeeper saved himself by parrying with his feet (44 ').Italy in control, but, surprisingly, the Bulgarian peer arrives on the counterattack: on the left Despodov wins the duel in speed with Florenzi arrives on the bottom and puts a nice cross for Atanas Iliev, the Ascoli striker anticipates Bonucci and beats Donnarumma, 1-1 (39 '). At the end of the first half Italy very close to the new advantage on Insigne's personal play, but the goalkeeper saved himself by parrying with his feet (44 ').Italy in control, but, surprisingly, the Bulgarian peer arrives on the counterattack: on the left Despodov wins the duel in speed with Florenzi arrives on the bottom and puts a nice cross for Atanas Iliev, the Ascoli striker anticipates Bonucci and beats Donnarumma, 1-1 (39 '). At the end of the first half Italy very close to the new advantage on Insigne's personal play, but the goalkeeper saved himself by parrying with his feet (44 ').
In the second half in Delev for Yomov among the Bulgarians (46 '). Mancini's boys press on the accelerator and close Bulgaria in their own half. Property and Church try, with no luck. Chochev enters Bulgaria (for Yankov at 57 '). Great chance for Chiesa in the 62nd minute, but again this time Bulgarian number 1 Georgiev is attentive and saves his goal. Mancini inserts Cristante and Toloi in place of Barella and Florenzi (64 '), Petrov sends Krastev on the field in place of the author of the goal, Atanas Iliev (70'). Double change both in Italy (Berardi and Raspadori for Insigne and Immobile in the 76th minute) and in Bulgaria (Kirilov and Marilov for Vitanov and Despodov in the 77th minute). In the end, with the few forces left at this point of the season, the Azzurri try, especially with Berardi and Raspadori. Inside also Pellegrini (at 90 'for Emerson),but the result does not change, it ends 1-1.