Many fans feel Gianluigi Donnarumma is to blame for Italy’s World Cup play-off defeat to North Macedonia yesterday, but is that really accurate?
The 23-year-old Italian shot stopper is not having an easy season following his free transfer to French giants Paris Saint-Germain last summer. He is sharing his starting spot with former Real Madrid man Keylor Navas and a disastrous performance in the Ligue 1 side’s Champions League collapse to Los Blancos clearly bothered him.
Donnarumma failed to react quickly to Aleksandar Trajkovski’s 92nd minute shot from outside the box, allowing it to creep in the far corner, where it broke hearts up and down Italy. It was only the second shot on target that he’d faced all game, but he still failed to perform when it mattered.
Despite this error, it’s simply unfair to lay a significant amount of blame on the 23-year-old shot stopper. Yes, he could have reacted faster and possibly saved the shot, but it’s not his fault that no defender managed to close Trajkovski down whilst he lined up the shot, a shot that he scored numerous times during his time with Palermo.
It’s also not Donnarumma’s fault that Italy failed to convert any of their 32 shots into a goal, nor is he to blame for Roberto Mancini’s failure to adequately resolve the Azzurri’s obvious issues upfront.
Pointing the finger of blame at the PSG goalkeeper is a lazy and ultimately useless piece of criticism, which serves noting as Italy look to rebuild ahead of Euro 2024. Donnarumma will remain Italy’s number one, as he rightfully should, and now it seems he’ll have to win back the hearts of Italians again.
It’s not 100% his fault. But it’s like 33.33% his fault.
Blame Donnarumma? If your attack can’t score AT LEAST 2 goals against a side like N.Macedonia, you’re not going to win, and frankly don’t deserve to win. Had this Azzurri squad squeaked thru in extra time or penalties, they’d lose 2-0 to Portugal anyway.
Idiots who point the finger at the goalkeeper forget we couldn’t score against Northern Ireland as well, then only a penalty against the two Switzerland games before that.
The problem is on the other side of the pitch lol
It’s partially his fault because he should have been able to do better. But it’s primarily the fault of the rest of the team. For Italy to be unable to score against a tiny side like North Macedonia across 90 minutes is just ridiculous. We definitely deserve to go out.
It’s not Donnarumma’s fault.
Italy didn’t deserve to go out. North Macedonia deserves to go through? What trophies will they ever win? Even if they take out Portugal next Tuesday. Eliminating Italy is the biggest thing they’ll ever do. The minute they change tactics from 10 man defense to attacking football, they’ll get burned.
Yes it’s not totally his fault you could say lack of playing time at psg has made him less concentrated it’s minor details if he stood 1 metre forward he probably pushes the shot comfortably round the post a keeper has to concentrate 110% throughout a game in which he had very little to do in a natch where he only had to make 1 save! Gigi is a young man and undoubtedly remain Italys number one but he needs to be playing more regularly and for Italy’s sake leave PSG it all depends on wether he prioritises money over playing for the national team! Long gone are the days of players playing most their careers at one club loyalty works both ways between clubs and players unfortunately it seems Agents are too influential and players are too loyal to the agent rather than the club that pays the wages through thick and thin!
Its clear Mancini has absolutely no idea how to beat a minnow side. Why he chose to play virtually the same squad that couldn’t score a single goal vs Nth Ireland, including Immobile who is completely useless when playing with his back to the wall. No change of formation, all short arse forwards and only finally making an attacking overhaul in the 75th minute.
It disappointing because Italy would smash Portugal, but instead we’ll have to watch Portugal beat Nth Mac 4-0
Problem was he didn’t do anything for 90 minutes. His concentration was not 100% at that stage of the game. And that is culpability. But as everyone has pointed out – Italy should have scored by then anyway. The forward line was all wrong against a team that defended in 10. Horrible game and frustrating to watch.
The real blame for Italy’s exit is because they threw so many points away in their five qualifying matches from September to November. Plus Jorginho’s two dreadful penalty misses in the games against Switzerland did not help; he should not take any further penalties for Italy as international goalkeepers have now sussed him out. Donaruma may have made a mistake for Macedonia’s goal but this should not negate the fact that his goalkeeping was a big contribution towards Italy becoming European Champions.