Andrea Cambiaso scored his first goal for Italy in the opening minute, so tries to see the ‘glass half-full’ after a 2-2 Nations League draw with Belgium.
The Nazionale had the ideal start at the Stadio Olimpico when Cambiaso broke the deadlock after 61 seconds, followed by Mateo Retegui turning in the rebound from a parried Cambiaso attempt.
“It’s a real pity, as the first 40 minutes were great and I think it would’ve been a very different game with 11 against 11,” Cambiaso told RAI Sport.
“We did many good things, so we must always see the glass half-full. I was afraid I might be offside on the goal, so I was very happy!”
Cambiaso broke Italy duck
The 24-year-old Juventus wing-back was involved in both goals and is hoping this will consolidate his place in the Italy squad, as it was only the 10th senior cap.
However, the game changed completely on 38 minutes when Lorenzo Pellegrini dived into an ill-advised lunge on former Bologna defender Arthur Theate and VAR showed it got him studs-up on the ankle.
Belgium pulled one back moments later through Maxim De Cuyper, then Leandro Trossard equalised on a corner kick routine.
“Even down to 10 men, we sacrificed ourselves and for the attitude I think we deserved more than a point,” concluded Cambiaso.
Italy are back in action on Monday at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine against Israel.
They also remain top of their Nations League group on seven points, followed by France on six and Belgium four.