Italy took the Nations League bronze medal for the second time, beating hosts the Netherlands 3-2 with goals from Federico Dimarco, Davide Frattesi and Federico Chiesa.
The Azzurri made seven changes and scrapped the 3-5-2 formation for a return to 4-3-3 after the 2-1 defeat to Spain, giving Torino defender Alessandro Buongiorno his international debut, but Lorenzo Pellegrini was not fully fit. The Dutch lost 4-2 to Croatia in extra time and had not beaten the Nazionale since 2008.
Italy took the lead with the first real attack, as Mateo Retegui failed to connect his overhead kick, but Giacomo Raspadori’s back-heel flick set up Federico Dimarco to smash into the far top corner off the outside of the left boot.
Retegui only grazed his head to a Dimarco cross, but Italy doubled their lead when Dimarco pulled back from the left to the edge of the area, Raspadori and Willy Gnonto were blocked off, but the ball fell kindly for Davide Frattesi to score from seven yards. After a long VAR check for potential handball, the goal was given.
Dimarco’s curler landed on the roof of the net, while Noa Lang’s free kick was charged down by Buongiorno’s face. Cody Gakpo failed to make the most of an error playing out from the back, as his lob was off target with Gigio Donnarumma rushing out.
Donnarumma made a brave save on Gakpo at the back post after Rafael Toloi was caught out by a cross-field pass, while Gnonto had a shot charged down.
Dimarco flung himself in the way of a Steven Bergwijn volley from six yards, as the hosts poured forward after making three changes at the break.
The Denzel Dumfries effort was too weak to trouble Donnarumma, but the Dutch made the increased pressure count with Bergwijn, who sold Dimarco a dummy to get it onto his left boot and fire in from eight yards.
However, Italy restored their two-goal cushion almost immediately, Federico Chiesa getting down the left with a stepover against Virgil van Dijk and instead of rolling across for Retegui, surprised the goalkeeper at the far bottom corner.
Chiesa blasted just over the bar and the Dutch had the ball back in the net when a Teun Koopmeiners free kick was deflected into the path of Wout Weghorst, but it was ruled offside by VAR.
They did get one back eventually, as Veerman’s through ball allowed Roma midfielder Gini Wijnaldum to spring the offside trap, turn and blast into the roof of the net.
Italy wasted a five against two move in stoppages, as Nicolò Zaniolo combined to Chiesa only for Lorenzo Pellegrini to horribly scuff the finish.
Netherlands 2-3 Italy
Dimarco 6 (I), Frattesi 20 (I), Bergwijn 68 (N), Chiesa 73 (I), Wijnaldum 90 (N)
18-06-2023 14:00 Player statistic
| 6' |  |
Federico Dimarco (Assist: Giacomo Raspadori) | ||
| 20' | |
Davide Frattesi (Assist: Wilfried Gnonto) | ||
| 34' |  |
Federico Dimarco |
| Steven Bergwijn | |
68' | ||
| 72' | |
Federico Chiesa (Assist: Davide Frattesi) | ||
| Georginio Wijnaldum (Assist: Joey Veerman) |
|
89' | ||
| Wout Weghorst | |
90+4' | ||
| 90+2' | |
Nicolò Barella | ||
| 90+4' | |
Francesco Acerbi |
Match statistic
