Nicolò Barella and Gianluca Mancini were among Italy’s best players against North Macedonia, according to Italian sports papers, while Matteo Politano, Gigio Donnarumma and Nicolò Zaniolo received low ratings.
The Azzurri were held to a 1-1 draw by North Macedonia in Skopie on Saturday in Luciano Spalletti’s debut as Italy coach.
Ciro Immobile’s opener in the second half was cancelled out by an Enis Bardhi free kick with nine minutes remaining. Italian sports papers on Sunday blamed Gigio Donnarumma for North Macedonia’s equaliser as the PSG keeper conceded at his near post.
Zaniolo’s performance was also not impressive. The Aston Villa loanee was introduced after the break, but caused the free-kick leading to North Macedonia’s equaliser. Tuttosport wrote that Zaniolo didn’t show the right attitude and was ‘sloppy’ when he entered the pitch in the second half.
Matteo Politano, the player Zaniolo had replaced, was disappointing too and received the lowest ratings from Italian sports papers.
On the other hand, Barella and Immobile were among the best players on the pitch on Sunday. They both contributed to Italy’s only goal as the Inter midfielder hit the crossbar with a volley and Immobile was at the right place at the right time to find the net with a header at the far post.
Italy ratings from sports papers
La Gazzetta dello Sport
Donnarumma 5.5; Di Lorenzo 5, Mancini 6 (59′ Scalvini 6), Bastoni 6, Dimarco 6 (82′ Biraghi N/A); Barella 6.5, Cristante 5.5, Tonali 5.5 (89′ Raspadori N/A); Politano 4.5 (46′ Zaniolo 5.5), Immobile 6, Zaccagni 5 (82′ Gnonto N/A). Coach: Spalletti 5.5.
Il Corriere dello Sport
Donnarumma 5; Di Lorenzo 5.5, Mancini 6.6 (59′ Scalvini 6), Bastoni 6, Dimarco 5.5 (82′ Biraghi N/A); Barella 6, Cristante 6, Tonali 5.5 (89′ Raspadori N/A); Politano 5 (46′ Zaniolo 6), Immobile 6, Zaccagni 5.5 (82′ Gnonto N/A). Coach: Spalletti 5.5.
Tuttosport
Donnarumma 5; Di Lorenzo 6, Mancini 6 (59′ Scalvini 5.5), Bastoni 6, Dimarco 6 (82′ Biraghi N/A); Barella 6.5, Cristante 5, Tonali 6.5 (89′ Raspadori N/A); Politano 5 (46′ Zaniolo 5), Immobile 6, Zaccagni 5.5 (82′ Gnonto N/A). Coach: Spalletti 5.5.