Inter striker Lautaro Martinez scored one and assisted another for Juventus target Angel Di Maria, with Paulo Dybala’s final strike, as Argentina comfortably beat Italy 3-0 for the Finalissima at Wembley Stadium.
This was the third edition of the showcase between reigning European and South American Champions, won by France in 1985 and Argentina in 1993. The Azzurri were missing numerous players, including Lorenzo Insigne, Ciro Immobile, Federico Chiesa, Domenico Berardi, Marco Verratti, Rafael Toloi and Nicolò Zanetti, while it was Giorgio Chiellini’s 117th and final appearance for Italy, back at Wembley Stadium under a year after lifting the EURO 2020 trophy.
Of the 90,000 fans in the stadium, a vast majority were supporting the Seleccion, who are unbeaten in 32 games – three full calendar years.
Giacomo Raspadori’s curler was smothered, while Cristian Romero crucially intercepted a Federico Bernardeschi roll across the six-yard box for Andrea Belotti and Il Gallo’s header was plucked out from under the bar.
However, it was Argentina who took the lead when Bernardeschi was perhaps fouled in the build-up, then Lionel Messi turned Giovanni Di Lorenzo to roll across the face of goal for a Lautaro Martinez tap-in.
Nicolò Barella forced a fingertip save from Emiliano Martinez, but Argentina doubled their lead before the break. Lautaro Martinez gathered from his own goalkeeper, turned Leonardo Bonucci to surge forward and sent Angel Di Maria clear to dink over the on-rushing Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Roberto Mancini made three changes at half-time, ending Chiellini’s Italy career during the break. Bonucci almost caught Donnarumma out with a sloppy back-pass that the goalkeeper had to scramble off the line, while Manuel Locatelli’s deflected effort tested Emiliano Martinez.
Donnarumma made a desperate fingertip save to push a slightly deflected Di Maria left-foot curler out of the far top corner. He also had his gloves stung by an absolutely ferocious Di Maria volley from the edge of the box on a corner.
Leonardo Spinazzola made his Italy comeback after that Achilles tendon tear during EURO 2020, but Giovani Lo Celso hit the side-netting on Messi’s assist after an Emerson error.
Messi tested his PSG teammate Donnarumma again after Jorginho was caught napping, then with a curler from the edge of the area.
Juventus forward Dybala came off the bench in stoppages and scored with the last kick of the game from Messi’s assist, a precise angled drive in off the inside of the far post.
Italy 0-3 Argentina
Lautaro Martinez 28 (A), Di Maria 45 (A), Dybala 94 (A)
Now do not rush to judge Mancini. Argentina have always had their number and be very careful. PhD Max could take the reins one day very soon, and Italy will go back 300 years with his back, back, down, down, try to get a 1-0 and pack up stall after 9 minutes. Juventus are in big trouble next year. Bonucci cannot lead any line. Milan, Italy and without Giorgio has proved it. They are being linked with Emerson Sandro, but Omicron Max will love it. As for Di Maria, again the “Feng Shui” master will not allow him to make runs like he does, and will soon come to learn the art of defending.
Well this is what I expected, when you hit the bottom there is no where to go but up. I hope Mancini can restore some sort of enthusiasm because this team was uninspired and clueless.
martinez is a thug, mancini is a loser.
Even though it was a glorified friendly, Italy were dreadful without having any pressure on them. Argentina were smooth and fluid, but will come up short as per usual in Qatar.
This is the worst display for Italy in a long time
Would love to see Argentina win the world cup. They have a great team & it’s probably Messi’s last chance to match Maradona
Bianconero, Messi will never match the great Maradona.
Lautaro didnt ruin anything. Serie A did!
Someone else using my username 😲😮☹️
Argentina look contenders for Qatar
Italy will be back!
My comments are not going through and someone else is using my username 🙁
If anything Mancini should realize he doesn’t have the personnel to play the style of football he wants. At least not the players I witnessed. I don’t blame him but clearly Italy doesn’t have the personnel to play a high backline properly. Lorenzo and Bonucci are going to get burned time and again if they don’t have someone with pace covering behind them because they don’t play this way in their respective teams. And if you want to play with a high press, you better make your mid and offense are actually threatening the other team which they clearly weren’t with Bernadeschi who has 0 quality as a freaking starter and playmaker. Idk this is definitely one were Mancini got it completely wrong.
Welcome to Juve Di Maria, You’re gonna learn hardcore defending skills UNDER ALLEGRI .
Adios
What problem does Mancini have with Pellegrini?
Wise words Lord.
Argentina are like Kryptonite to Italy, just like France with Brazil.
Maybe Di Maria is stalling on this move to Juve, not for the 1 yr deal, but more importantly learning who this Allegri character really is.
if you put players on the field who do not belong these are the expected results.
I want to say he treated this like a friendly with his player selections but then again he could put the same scrubs out their in the nations league
I was at the match tonight, the defence is awful.
Im a Milanista and I can safely that that Donnarumma is a ghost now that he has left Milan.
It was scary seeing him with the ball at his feet.
@Frankie
Your right, Mesdi outshines Maradona 😎
@Frankie
You’re right? Messi outshines Maradona!
Oh boy I am so not looking forward to the games against Germany and England. We will be chasing shadows those games.
blah blah blah blah blah – always the same thing. Everyone looks at one game and make judgement. This game shows how crap we really are, but don’t forget at least Argentina have quality. We lost to North Macedonia at home in the WC playoff!!! wtf
Italy are going backwards in all aspect of the game (stadiums, crappy coaches, youngsters not starting in Serie A, too many Foreigners) – why do we continue to play Foreigners when our clubs don’t win anything at European level anyway!! ok Roma won the Conference league – a made up useless trophy for the less like in Europe..
Everything needs to change or else we are just going to be known as has beens and walk overs just like it has been over the last few years which started in the 2010 WC when we didn’t get out of the group stage after losing to Slovakia and drawing with New Zealand (NZ really…..). Then in 2014 the same thing happened (we beat England, but look at them now – England changed everything and are progressing nicely. We changed nothing and are going backwards). You might say we beat England last year in the EC Final, but they are a team on the up and we are going the opposite direction.
If Italy want the same thing to happen as it has in recent years, do nothing. If we want to progress, review and change everything
Italy will get the recall and be in the WC, but he better overhaul that roster.
Can’t blame Ciruzzo for lack of goals this time.
0 scored yet again. To boot, concede 3.
Ever since last July this team has forgotten how to play.
For the life of me, I cannot understand Mancini’s fixation with Jorginho. He is terribly slow with the ball and gives it away so cheaply, including leading to two of Argentina’s goals tonight. On form, Pellegrini is Italy’s best player. Why does Mancini never play him? This is mind-numbing stuff.
Forza Canada 🇨🇦 🇨🇦🇨🇦
Is Mancini seriously going to stick with this group going forward? he said he’ll try new players but it’s the likes of Bernardeschi, Emerson, and Pessina again. Two of them are bench warmers at their club! Meanwhile Tonali and Udogie sit at home while Pellegrini didn’t even play smh. I’m not saying Italy will win if they played but what message does it send when undeserving players start for Italy? Is this a finalissima or is this a retirement match?
Is Mancini seriously going to stick with this group going forward? he said he’ll try new players but it’s the likes of Bernardeschi, Emerson, and Pessina again. Two of them are bench warmers at their club! Meanwhile Tonali and Udogie sit at home while Pellegrini didn’t even play smh. Is this a finalissima or is this a retirement match?
Is Mancini seriously going to stick with this group going forward? he said he’ll try new players but it’s the likes of Bernardeschi, Emerson, and Pessina again. Two of them are bench warmers at their club! Is this a finalissima or is this a retirement match?
Is Mancini seriously going to stick with this group going forward? he said he’ll try new players but it’s the likes of Bernardeschi, Emerson, and Pessina again. Two of them are bench warmers at their club! Fookin hel!
Can someone please explain why does belotti get a chance to play for italy……
It made totally nonsense to start the game with Belloti, Emerson, Pessina, and Bernardeschi. Pellegrini should have started before Pessina and Bonazzoli or Balotelli should be called instead of Belotti.
where was 5 goals per game balotelli?
Lord Allegri,
History has nothing to do with Mancini’s mistakes today in his lineup. Di Lorenzo has always been a liability and Messi bullied him all day. What’s Mancini’s problem with Calabria? The Jorginho love affair has to stop. Italy and Argentina are 6-4-6 in head to head for all time, so it hasn’t always been this way just the last three have gone in Argentina’s favor. Chiellini was easily beat on the second goal. Thanks for your service, but it’s time to go. Italy desperately need new blood on the back line. Calabria, Bastoni – Bonucci and Spinazzola should be fine for the next year, but we’ll have to find a replacement for Bonucci quick.
Panoloo, you’re going overboard son.
Today was a bad game but not without chances. We’re missing some key players, Chiesa, Spinazzola only came on late, Verratti who could have helped contain Leo.
“England changed everything and are progressing nicely. We changed nothing and are going backwards). You might say we beat England last year in the EC Final, but they are a team on the up and we are going the opposite direction.
If Italy want the same thing to happen as it has in recent years, do nothing. If we want to progress, review and change everything.”
This is a bit much. Everything was changed March 2018 and 3 years later they were European champs and 37 game unbeaten streak, then teams figured them out and bunkered against them and they had no answer. Argentina today played a tight organized defense and counter-attack. Everyone has figured this out. Time to change up, but not everything. Bring on Calabria, Verratti should occupy Jorginho’s role, and have Tonali and Barella with him, Locatelli too. I have no problems going to a straight four midfield, Raspadori/Chiesa/Scamacca/Zaniolo/Keen up front. Drop the rest.
If Mancini uses the same lineup in the Nations League, it’s time to start looking for a new coach.
Well said Gerarado. 👏
With the option to pick a fully fit side, Mancini should build his starting 11 to Donnarumma Spinazzolla (LB), Bastoni (CB), Mancini (CB), Calabria (RB), Tonali (CDM), Locatelli/Verratti (LM), Barella (RM), Pellegrini (AM), Raspidori/Chiesa (CF), Zaniolo (CF)…. drop Bonucci, Jorghino, Belotti etc
Calabria is not a solution. Even Darko Lazović could make him like a joke. Mancini should start with Darmian or Cambiaso instead.
It’s time for mancio to say goodbye.
He hasn’t anything to give Italy.
Many player like bonucci must leave the squad.
The playing system must be changed, we can’t play like Spain.
Hope a new coach replace him as soon as possible.
Calabria is 10, maybe 20x better than Di Lorenzo who had no business being a dribbling pylon for Messi yesterday. Tonali should have been on too. Belotti should never start, Bernardeschi can play a full year for Napoli before even being considered a sub for Italy again, if that.
Gerardo, we did make changes in 2018 which brought us a EC, but we need to keep progressing – 4 years later, and we don’t qualify for the WC. If you are happy with this, then you are not a real Italian.
If we continue in the same path, we will not even finish in the top 2 in the next World Cup qualify group as the our players will be under so much pressure to perform, and what I can see we do not have the players to cope with this.
Change is require at every level…
Panoloo, no need to exaggerate. No one is happy with failing for the world cup, but what happens if Jorginho makes one penalty? I bet Mancini still uses this Nations League to accelerate the incoming youth to the club by November. I don’t think that we would be seeing the whole old guard in this Nations League. That’s why I said don’t throw baby out with bathwater.