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2:0 – Austria managed to overcome Italy’s impressive World Cup frustration

2:0 – Austria managed to overcome Italy’s impressive World Cup frustration

Austria’s team deserved more than the 18,000 spectators in Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium on Sunday evening. In November, it’s usually just the wind whistling through the dilapidated national arena. On Sunday, however, there was also an unexpected whirlwind in the home attack, which made the not at all inexperienced Italian defense team look as old as the Prater-Oval.

Six players from the 2021 European Championship round of 16, which Austria lost 2-1 in extra time, were called up by Italy’s team boss Roberto Mancini. From goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to defender Leonardo Bonucci, to midfield strategists Marco Verratti and Nicolo Barella, there was enough experience on the pitch to make no excuses.

With Verratti, it was the player in the Italian starting line-up with the most caps after captain Bonucci, who let Xaver Schlager swipe the ball in midfield very easily. Marko Arnautovic took over in order to put it back on Schlager at the crucial moment – ​​who converted in a goal-getting manner (6th). It was Schlager’s third international goal, who had previously only scored goals for the national team in Nations League defeats against Northern Ireland (1-2) and Denmark (1-2). The foul protests by the Italians after Schlager’s ball conquest against Verratti had been both unsuccessful and groundless. The duel was a reflection of the game in which Austria simply wanted to win more.

Junior Adamu should have single-handedly put Austria’s eleven, which had started in a 3-4-2-1, higher in the lead – but failed almost negligently (27th, 31st). David Alaba did better a little later with a 25-yard free kick. The “curved ball” was brilliantly shot – Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma didn’t look too good when he conceded the goal (35′).

After the break, Italy’s team boss Roberto Mancini didn’t help even a quadruple change for the time being. Deadkeeper Donnarumma kept his team in the game right after the restart when Arnautovic had a chance (47′). Only after 70 minutes did it become really dangerous for the first time – when goalkeeper Heinz Lindner cleared a Raspadori shot with his foot for a corner. After Federico Chiesa’s second top chance (81st), nothing came and Austria’s team could celebrate a well-deserved 2-0 win.

Source: Nachrichten

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