The Italian team ended up achieving a clear victory against Albania (1-3) in a friendly played in Tirana despite the fact that they had to recover from the initial goal received in the first stages of the match.
If it has been difficult for the ‘azzurra’ to play this friendly knowing that they will not attend Qatar 2022, the second World Cup event they have lost in a row, they also started losing to a lowly Albania on paper.
However, a goal by Ardian Ismajli, who curiously plays for Empoli, in the 16th minute put Roberto Mancini’s team in trouble. The conceded goal only provoked a reaction from the visitors, who through Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Vincenzo Grifo rounded the score in less than ten minutes. At 25′, Italy was leading the scoreboard.
Sandro Tonali made the only negative note for Italy when he retired on a stretcher after a heavy clash with an opponent left him suspended. In the 64th minute, Grifo completed his double and closed out his excellent performance giving an Italy peace of mind that will face Austria in the 20th.
Pafuundi is making history
In the last seconds of the game, Mancini gave the chance to playmaker Simone Pafundi, who at 16 years, 6 months and two days became the youngest debutant in the last 100 years of the Italian team. They were surpassed by Rodolfo Gavinelli (16 years, 3 months, and 8 days) in 1911 and Renzo De Vecchi (16 years, 3 months, and 23 days) in 1910.
Pafundi played just one game in Serie A, his debut, in May 2022 at Salernitana-Udinese on the last day of the last season.
Fagioli is also making his debut
Nicolò Fagioli, a 21-year-old Juventus midfielder and one of the revelations of the season in Serie A, also made his debut for Italy when Mancini introduced him in the last quarter of an hour.
Albania
13
Italy
Albania: Hysaj, Ismajli (Adrian Bajrami, 71′), Kumbulla, Mihaj, Lenjani; Nedim Bajrami (Asllani, 71′), Abrashi (Ramadani, 77′), Keidi Bare (Laci, 87′); Broja (Roshi, 50′) and Uzuni (Skuka, 87′)
Italy: Meret; Scalvini, Bonucci (Pinamonti, 90′), Bastoni; Di Lorenzo, Tonali (Ricci, 45′), Verratti (Pafundi, 90′), Dimarco; Zaniolo (Fagioli, 77′), Raspadori (Chiesa, 90′) and Grifo (Gnonto, 77′)
Goals: 1-0, Ismajli (16′); 1-1, DiLorenzo (20′); 1-2, Tap (25′); 1-3, Griffin (64′)
Referee: Genc Nuza (Kosovo). Yellow cards to Kumbulla (45+3′), Bare (61′), Verratti (61′) and Roshi (65′)
Stadium: Air Albania in Tirana
see the match sheet
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
