Italy is perfect also with team B

No biscotto, no breaks. Italy closes a perfect group stage with another victory, this time for the slightest but always brilliant. The azzurri lined up a 'team B' that did not alter their principles of play and defeated Welsh, who managed a long-suffering pass anyway, thanks to their better goal difference over Switzerland. It was a historic triumph for the Italians, who equaled the record set 82 years ago by Vittorio Pozzo. (30 games without losses) and added their eleventh consecutive victory. They all arrived without conceding goals, confirming that you can defend perfectly also by playing well.

Mancini did what was expected, give space to those who until now had not had, and started the game with eight changes. The coach only confirmed Donnarumma, Bonucci and Jorginho, but it was shown that when he says “here are all headlines”, he is not lying. La Azzurra dominated the first half (65% possession, 10 shots to two) against those of Page, who for his part decided to reserve the warned Davies, Mepham and Moore. The Welsh tried to get close to Donnarumma and succeeded only once. From a long collective move fueled by the quality of Ramsey and Bale (the only ones to try together with James) a corner was born that a Gunter header did not make it 0-1 by a matter of centimeters. Apart from that, it was an azure monologue, with a level of perfection that even involved Mancini himself, capable of earning an ovation with a high heel and a first-touch pass when the ball approached his bench. Belotti was late twice to the appointment with the goal that the Azzurra achieved later, thanks to a set piece. Verratti, in his expected debut in a European Championship, gave very good signs about his recovery and with a foul from the right wing he found in the area to Pessina, who opened the can with a precise right cross. The one from Atalanta celebrated as much almost as Grosso against Germany in 2006: came to the European Championship suddenly thanks to Sensi's injury and even had his moment of glory. With Mancini, everyone can.

The advantage goal did not change the script of the game at all. Italy was still in command in search of the 2-0, which immediately brushed at the restart with a Bernardeschi foul that hit the post. Acerbi, who gave Bonucci a break, gave Ramsey an opportunity to tie, but Juve's team did not take advantage of it and the momentum with which the Italians, through the quality of Jorginho and Verratti, transformed the game was impressive. danger on an offensive play. Shortly after, the Welsh afternoon was further complicated by an ugly kick to the ankle to Bernardeschi of Ampadu, who saw an inevitable red. Obviously in numerical superiority, the Italians increased their pressure (and Belotti touched the goal again) but they also conceded the best chance for the players from set pieces. Page. Bale received, just a step from Donnarumma's goal, a cross combed by Rodon, but he kicked the ball out with a volley. It was the last time the visitors approached the rival goalkeeper. Later, Wales locked themselves in their area defending a defeat by the minimum that was enough to qualify, although without suffering too much. The Azzurri lost intensity as the minutes passed, and ended the game by touching the ball very calmly. Thus, the 'notti magiche' at the Olympic Games ended without any shocks, with full victories and a record. From now on, the Nazionale will no longer play at home and the level of the rivals will be higher and higher. The moment of truth has arrived, but Italy is more ready than ever.

Mancini: “Now another tournament begins, I only ask to continue like this”

Roberto Mancini still living a magical moment. With the victory against Wales, his Italy closed the group stage of the Euro with full victories and equaled Vittorio Pozzo's record, 30 games without losing, which he had held for 82 years. The Azzurra coach, however, knows that he still has a lot of work to do: “I am happy to have equaled a legend like Pozzo, but he has won titles and so it is better not to think about comparisons. We have played well, that is the important thing, it was not easy changing eight players with the heat that it was “.

Alignment: “It was always a problem to choose the eleven, now it will be even more so because we have seen that there are many players at a great level of form. It will be difficult to leave someone out.”

Welsh: “In numerical inferiority they only defended themselves and it was not easy to find spaces. We were not very attentive in their set pieces either.”

Eighths: “Now another tournament starts, I only ask that my players continue like this.”

Page: “It feels like a win”

Robert Page, selector of Welsh, said this Sunday that the second place achieved in group A of the Eurocup, despite losing 0-1 to Italy in Rome, feels “like a victory” and can not “be more proud of the boys.”

“I couldn't be more proud, it feels like a victory, because we finished second. We knew it would be difficult, that we would have to suffer, but we must give credit to the boys, “said Page at the press conference after the Roman Olympic match.

Page acknowledged that he wanted to “take advantage of the good mood” after the victory of the previous day against Turkey, but highlighted the great physical effort that his squad had to make, after playing their first two games in Baku and traveling more than eight hours to play the last duel in Rome.

“The boys are tired, let's see when we go to Amsterdam. It was not easy. We had to go to Baku, then to Italy. Doing a European Championship throughout Europe is a great idea, but logistically it is a nightmare,” he said.

“The boys deserve a lot of compliments for what they lived through,” he added.

He also surrendered to Gareth Bale, whom he asked for an extra effort this Sunday despite the two demanding matches played in Baku against Switzerland and Turkey.

“It was phenomenal, it led to the two goals against Turkey. The way I ask him to play is tough, but I'm very happy for what he brings to our team. It's not just about goals or assists, it's everything else, “he concluded.