0-2: Italy ended Hungary’s dream of reaching the Final Four

Italy, largely absent from the next World Cup in Qatar, made up for it today by achieving the victory it needed at the Puskas Arena in Budapest against Hungary (0-2) to qualify for the Final Four of the Nations League. The ‘azzurra’ knocked the Magyars out of first place on the final day of Group 3 of League A and joined Croatia and the Netherlands in the fight for the title. Portugal or Spain will tomorrow complete the quartet of applicants in the final stage to be played in June 2023.

Italy, knowing that the win was worth it, came out more determined and superior in the first half. In the absence of scorers like Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne or Andrea Belotti, his most dangerous player was Giovanni Di Lorenzo, the Napoli winger who repeatedly burst down the right wing as Roberto Mancini once again opted for a central three defender.

Meanwhile, the Hungarian defense showed signs of nerves from the start when in the 4th minute goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi slipped his hands with a cross without much trouble from Bryan Cristante and Attila Szalai the saved him from trouble by avoiding the goal on the same line.

Hungary gave up 0-1

Italy moved the ball well through Jorginho, Nicolò Barella and Cristante and also pressed high causing another serious error, this time in a pass to Adam Nagy. Gulacsi came to the rescue and prevented the very young Wilfried Gnonto from scoring, but the clearance fell to Giacomo Raspadori, who scored into an empty goal (26′). The Napoli striker was once again decisive, as on Friday with his important goal against England (1-0).

Di Lorenzo soon made it 0-2 with a superbly threaded shot from outside the area that was very close to the post. Hungary, hitherto at the mercy of Italy, was forced to respond. Guided by Dominik Szoboszlai, his player of the most quality, he gave away his first shot of the match shortly before the break when Attila Szalai, after a poor start from Gianluigi Donnarumma with a free kick that Szoboszlai took, about to score on a rebound .

donnarum, hero

But after the restart, after Di Lorenzo’s first chance with a high header, Donnarumma became Italy’s hero in a game with Hungary’s three shots in a row, pulling off two miraculous saves on Nego’s shots and Adam Szalai (49′) .

Italy, penalized for not closing out games that saw them miss out on a World Cup for the second time in a row, responded immediately and liquidated the game and the classification in a masterful move.

Great collective play and Dimarco sentence

Barella put in a deep pass, Cristante cut to perfection and Federico Dimarco finished his cross at the far post (51′). It was the first goal as an international for the Inter left winger.

Hungary still didn’t let go of their arm to twist and ask Donnarumma again, again stellar to deflect a header from point-blank range by recent arrival Callum Styles (54′) with his body. The PSG goalkeeper also showed reflexes moments later to send a shot right at Styles, undoubtedly the Magyars’ most dangerous player, for a corner, which was deflected by Leonardo Bonucci (62′).

End the Hungarian dream

The players led by Italian Marco Rossi ran out of steam and ended up giving up after the referee, after consulting VAR, did not consider Adam Szalai’s fall in a fight with Alessandro Bastoni as a penalty (81′) . Rising Hungary, after qualifying for the 2016 and 2020 European Championships, woke up from their dream against an Italy that will repeat its presence in the Final Four of the Nations League after finishing third in the last edition.