Italy had a goal disallowed and Poland saw red with Jacek Goralski, but there were also potentially another two dismissals and a penalty.
The Azzurri won the Nations League match 2-0 thanks to a Jorginho penalty – no argument for Grzegorz Krychowiak having both arms wrapped around Andrea Belotti’s waist to stop him heading a cross – and a late Domenico Berardi effort.
Italy had a goal disallowed and Poland saw red with Jacek Goralski, but there were also potentially another two dismissals and a penalty.
The Azzurri won the Nations League match 2-0 thanks to a Jorginho penalty – no argument for Grzegorz Krychowiak having both arms wrapped around Andrea Belotti’s waist to stop him heading a cross – and a late Domenico Berardi effort.
Referee Clement Turpin is known for keeping his cards in his picket and did not stray from that reputation this evening, as he repeatedly let players off with a stern word rather than any tangible punishment.
It is therefore almost impressive that Goralski managed to pick up two yellow cards despite only coming off the bench at half-time.
He had already risked this event several times since the opening yellow, which could in itself have been a straight red on 63 minutes for lunging two-footed on Belotti at the touchline.
The second booking was not so much for the foul on Belotti as the accumulation of mistimed tackles.
There is no VAR in the Nations League group games, so we’ll never know if Robert Lewandowski could’ve risked a red card for his reaction foul on Alessandro Bastoni.
True, the Italy defender was wrapped all over him and the striker was trying to shrug Bastoni away, but there was arguably intent and certainly some ferocity in the way he jerked his elbow into the Inter man’s chin.
It was only 23 minutes into the game and could’ve transformed the match.
Just before that, Lorenzo Insigne saw his goal disallowed for Belotti’s offside position, which was certainly interfering with play, as he stood in the path of Wojciech Szczesny and prevented him from reaching the ball.
Italy should’ve had a penalty on 73 minutes, when the scoreline was still only 1-0, as Belotti’s shot was charged down by Jan Bednarek’s hand.
Unlike an earlier incident on Federico Bernardeschi’s shot when the arm was flush with the body and the hand in a natural position.
On this occasion, Bednarek’s arm was flailing behind him and the hand several inches away from the body, acting as a shield to block the path of the ball.