The Red Devils’ performance on Thursday evening against Italy clearly did not convince the transalpine press. The Italian media were merciless with the Belgian team, which won the match 11 against 10.
The Red Devils did well yesterday against Italy. After around forty minutes of apnea, the Belgians came back to life thanks to the exclusion of Pellegrini, who completely changed the dynamic of the match. In the Italian press, we can feel a form of unease. The transalpine journalists are both seduced by the face of their team, but also worried by what the Red Devils proposed at 11 against 11.
“A machine that outclassed Belgium”
The criticism addressed to the national team is even harsh. Take for example the Gazzetta dello Sport, which is firstly delighted with the form of Italy, which released a remarkable new score, a month after the great victory against France. “Belgium was almost stunned,” even announces the newspaper, which then attacked the Belgian game, with unflattering comparisons. “Mangala looked like a dam in ruins and Tielemans was a leader with a diesel engine that struggled to start”they wrote in particular.
Sky Italia is not kinder. “Belgium was relegated to a simple role as an extra on the field. Italy, on the other hand, played beautiful, efficient football for 40 minutes. Pellegrini’s red card changed everything”they detail in their columns. Finally, Corriere dello Sport evokes an obvious superiority for Italy in this meeting. “We played spectacularly until the red card. Italy were superior to Belgium, in every way. Dimarco drove them crazy, Italy was a machine that outclassed Belgium, it even seemed too good to be true”write the journalists.
The Italian press, however, evokes a form of success, saying it is skeptical about the penalty refused to the Red Devils for a foul on Openda. A phase which could have tilted the meeting in favor of our national team, which will try to be more convincing on Monday against France.
Red Devils Nations League Italy
