Italian players and Roberto Mancini are being heavily criticised after Tuesday’s defeat to Germany in the Nations League, but La Gazzetta dello Sport partially absolves Gigio Donnarumma.
The Azzurri suffered a 5-2 loss against Germany last night, one of the most embarrassing defeats in their history.
Clearly, the media haven’t taken the result lightly, as the CT Mancini and Italy players have been heavily criticised in this morning’s Pagelle.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Alessandro Bastoni was the worst player on the pitch on Tuesday. The pink paper wrote that it was probably his worst game ever. The Inter star was rated 4/10, the same as Davide Calabria, Leonardo Spinazzola, Davide Frattesi, Bryan Cristante and Giacomo Raspadori.
Gazzetta partially absolved Donnarumma despite a wrong pass that caused Germany’s fifth goal in the second half. According to the paper, the PSG star was the best Azzurri on the pitch (6/10), even if his late error cancelled out his previous four saves.
On the other hand, Tuttosport blamed the product of Milan academy, naming him as the worst player on the pitch (4.5/10), the same as Bastoni and Politano.
As per Il Corriere dello Sport, Davide Calabria was the most disappointing Azzurri man: the Milan defender received the lowest rating, 4.
Mancini was also criticised. Gazzetta wrote that the CT showed ‘confused ideas,’ while Corriere dello Sport added that the path toward reconstruction would be ‘long and tiring.’
Wilfried Gnonto was the only player to save face on German soil. He became the youngest Azzurri scorer at a senior level and received the highest ratings on Italian papers.
Le pagelle della Gazzetta: Bastoni disastroso. Si salva solo Donnarumma #GERITA https://t.co/116J8TWyDW
— La Gazzetta dello Sport (@Gazzetta_it) June 14, 2022
Bastoni is so overrated. 80 million and 100 million while Bremer is 25 million. Crazy!! No wonder Marotta will sell if these figures are true and replace him with a better player for less than half price
If it was a friendly no one would care. Fans complain that he doesn’t play young players. Then he gets vilified when he does. These are the games to experiement. Its about development and trying new ideas. You get beaten and you adjust. Its football. Fans and media can be ao fickle. They were top of europe 12 months ago!
Whilst it’s lame to lose to Germany of all teams and in this manner, the bottom line is, who cares? What’s at stake? Not much. We don’t have a World Cup to look forward to, so our next tournament is in 2+ years. Take this time to give young players some time and get cohesion in the group.
Totally agree with the comments above. The problem with Italian Football is we always focus on results and not how we are actually playing. We need a young team to all come through at the same time at the next Euros & World Cup , not playing guys like Chiellini trying to salvage a nil all draw achieving nothing.
Totally agree about Bastoni.
Stupid stupid stupid penalty to give away.
Calabria and Bastoni made a lot of mistakes. They need time to improve. Italy should have more friendly games to test new tactics and players.
This is not on Mancini. If the Italian media want to blame anyone it needs to blame Serie A. This is who he has to choose from in the domestic league. If relevant teams don’t want to raise italian youth then this will always be the Italy going forward. Totti, Del Piero, Baggio, Vieri, Maldini etc…. what happened? In today’s Serie A they would never exist because they aren’t Brazilian nor Argention. Serie A is the route of the problem.
Calabria the worst Italy player? Surely not!
As usual people over at Corriere dello Sport need their eyes checked.
If there is anyone to blame is Serie A. Keep letting teams play with 8 and 7 foreign players on the pitch in every single game then expect the Italian national team to be superior, How??? It is impossible and if things go this way we will even miss the next Euros and probably the next World Cup. Juventus, Inter, Milan , Napoli, Roma wake up little and love your country
The media in italy should be the last people to write anything they r the cancer of italy along with he politicians and then the team owner. Why don’t they write about why foreign player dominate italy over 60% and how no Italians play and are at best subs. They r the disgrace and get a -0/10.
Trust the process, italian media can blame but they should also encourage our players, our young team still in process of bonding and playing together, given time this team will play better and solid.
with a name like “AliG”, why would anyone take you seriously?
I thought the penalty against Bastoni was harsh. Was it dumb to push the German player even a little? Yes. But was it a clear cut foul after a reckless or clumsy challenge? No.
Keep in mind he has spent most of his career in a back 5. Its a big difference to a back 4. Should he be able to adapt? No doubt. But not over the course of 1 game, against a very good German side.
Barella and Bastoni both need a break. Badly.
Luigi…i like Bastoni…& i’m a Milan fan. But to say he usually plays in a back 5 & that is the reason for his poor performance…c’mon. If he cannot play in a back 4…he should have hung the boots up a long time ago.
The Italian media must be more obtuse than Seria A leadership.
If they can’t or don’t wish to recognize the fact that 33% Italian talent participation rates are not sustainable for Italuan talent pool success, then they are equally responsible for the Nazionale’s issues.
Italian National Team fans are very demanding. They demand the best from the players, coach and staff. That is why they have won 4 world cups and 2 Euros. Fans have a right to be demanding as they are the ones who pay for the tickets to go see the games. Italian fans expect the team to play well every game. When they go into a tournament we expect the team to win the tournament or be at least in the TOP 4. No outside looking in! If coaching or player changes have to be made they should be made on time and not wait until the team does not qualify for an upcoming tournament. If it takes $25 Million per year to bring in Carlo Ancelotti or Capello so be it. WE EXPECT TO EXCEL AND WIN OR GO DOWN WITH PRIDE!
They will be back and they will be better than before
FORZA AZZURRI
Is Bastoni any better than Romagnoli?
Anyways, I am yet to see an excellent Azzurri game by Bastoni, all the times he has played. Always clumsy to say the least. Gatti looks more natural in that position
Was anyone else besides me impressed with Scalvini when he came on? I thought he looked very composed and had good physicality. I’d be interested to see him in the center of defense for Italy at some point. Maybe the future is Gatti and Scalvini instead of Bastoni and Mancini
Italy and Germany in seven goal thriller…..Qualification for Nations League still very much on.
Most Italian defenders are playing in back 3 (both Mancini and bastoni play in a back 3 ) it would probably take some time for them to adjust. Maybe Mancini should take a leaf of Nicolato playbook and plays with 3 at the back/ something that players comfortable with. I remember just before euro 2016, we also got thrash by Germany in a friendly but went to e to toe with them in qfinal. So there is hope still..