Final result: Italy-Belgium 2-2
Italy’s report cards (edited by Raimondo De Magistris)
Donnarumma 6 – He concedes two goals for which he has no particular fault. In the second half he is constantly under pressure, but is never called upon to make major interventions.
By Lorenzo 5.5 – First half flawless, in the second half he had difficulty especially with corner kicks: he was clearly late on the 2-2 goal.
Sticks 5.5 – Majestic first half soiled by the wrong pass on Pellegrini: it’s true that the Roma captain should have let it go, but on that occasion he served it as badly as it could. He was lucky in the second half: the challenge on Openda was a foul, the referee awarded a corner.
Calafiori 6 – Nothing to say when Italy plays the game, they attack the space with courage and awareness. Less punctual in marking: he too has some faults at 2-2.
Cambiaso 7.5 – Score the first goal, generate the second. Lethal in the offensive zone, but equally precise when it comes to defending: for information, ask Trossard.
Frattesi 6 – He reads Belgium’s set-piece scheme late on the 2-1 goal. Paradoxically better in numerical inferiority when he takes Pellegrini’s place and plays behind Retegui. From the 90th Bellanova sv
Curls 7 – After Pizarro, Brozovic and Lobotka here is the new director to whom Spalletti has decided to entrust the keys to his team. In three games he got everyone to agree: he is the central midfielder that this Italy needs. Precise and pragmatic in his readings, he is always available to collect the ball and clean it up. From the 71st Fagioli – Show that you know how to suffer.
Tonal 6.5 – His intensity in both phases of the game is essential to never switch off. Since September, the national team has been a completely different team also because he has returned: a top player. From the 81st Pisilli sv
Dimarco 7.5 – The opening on the second goal is worthy of the best Calhanoglu. he has a unique ability in the fifth-on-fifth game: Cambiaso thanks. From the 71st Udogie 6 – He gets into the game well.
Pilgrims 4 – He wastes a first half hour of seven on the report card with a killer, senseless intervention. Bastoni had served him badly, he had forced the construction from below and he had to let it go: instead he left Italy with ten men from the 39th.
Retegui 7 – It is always in the light, it is always lucid. The 2-0 tap-in is the least of a precious performance, especially when Italy is down to ten men: even in isolation, he shows that he knows how to hold his own and acts alone. From the 80th Raspadori sv
Luciano Spalletti 6.5 – In the first half hour we saw the best Italy of his management and if the game then changes face it is certainly not his fault. In the second half the team quickly appeared tired: perhaps they could have made certain changes sooner.
Belgium’s report cards (edited by Paolo Lora Lamia)
Casteels 5.5 – Some responsibility for both Italian goals for the Belgian number one, given that in both cases he was short and then failed to avoid the tapin.
Debast 5.5 – Together with Doku, he experiences a decidedly complicated first part of the race having to face a Dimarco in a state of grace. He suffers less in the second half.
Faes 6.5 – Better in the opponent’s area than in his own, given that on free kicks he is often treacherous with his blocks. With one of these, Trossard made it 2-2.
Theater 6 – Compared to his teammate, he does something more in terms of approach and in general he deserves a passing grade. From 68′ Vranckx 6 – It gives freshness to the midfielder, in view of a final in which you have to push but also avoid the blue counterattacks.
De Cuyper 7 – His performance had the turning point in the 2-1 goal: negative up until that moment, he then became one of the best on the pitch.
Tielemans 6 – Rather opaque in the first half hour, but more incisive in both phases as the minutes pass.
Mangala 5.5 – Does not excel at protecting the backfield. He tries to shoot on goal a few times, but without success. From 68′ Chestnuts 6 – He came in to lend a hand in defense and did his duty until the end of the match.
Doku 6.5 – Tedesco surprisingly places him on the right and he doesn’t have any great answers, given that he suffers terribly against Dimarco on that side. A completely different story in the second half, when he becomes one of the most incisive on the left. From 87′ Fofana sv.
De Ketelaere 5 – He floats between the lines, being swallowed up by the blue midfield without managing to activate the move. From the 68th minute Lukebakio 6 – Positioned on the right, he shows off some offensive ideas in that area of the pitch.
Trossard 7 – Definitely one of the best in Tedesco’s lineup. He entered the action that led to De Cuyper’s goal, then embellishing his effort with the strike that made it 2-2.
Openda 5.5 – He doesn’t have the fields to attack like in Leipzig-Juventus, therefore struggling to make an impact with his speed. Something more after the break. From 87′ Ngonge sv.
Domenico Tedesco 6 – Something goes wrong in the starting eleven, but he corrects his shot during the match. Comeback clearly aided by numerical superiority.