Italy were condemned to a scandalous 2-1 defeat to France in the European Under-21 Championship, as the lack of VAR and goal-line technology saw their equaliser not given.
The Azzurrini had Sandro Tonali and Giorgio Scalvini ‘borrowed’ from the senior squad for this tournament, plus Wilfried Gnonto on the bench. There were some familiar faces in their rivals too, including Milan full-back Pierre Kalulu and Lecce defender Valentin Gendrey. Earlier today, Switzerland beat Norway 2-1 in this group, and the top two reaching the quarter-finals.
Captain Tonali, who is on the verge of a transfer to Newcastle, bent a free kick just wide of the far bottom corner in the opening minutes.
Scalvini’s header from a Tonali corner was acrobatically fingertipped out from under the crossbar, but it was France who broke the deadlock with a delightful Arnaud Kalimuendo back-heel flick on Kalulu’s low cross from the right.
Italy survived a few counter-attack scares and equalised with Pietro Pellegri’s header into the far top corner on a Tonali free kick.
Marco Carnesecchi spilled a sudden Kouadio Kone snapshot that bounced right in front of him and Destiny Udogie blasted over the bar.
Gnonto came on for the very quiet Nicolo Cambiaghi and there were penalty appeals at both ends, one for Kalulu handball, the other for a Nicolo Rovella nudge on Amine Gouiri, but with no VAR in the group phase, they were waived away.
The lack of VAR was also crucial on the second France goal, because Gouiri seemed to foul Caleb Okoli in midfield to start the move, but even then Udogie made an absolute howler trying to dribble in the box, leaving Bradley Barcola to score undisturbed.
Carnesecchi prevented a third with his reaction save, as Loic Bade was allowed a volley from seven yards on a corner completely unmarked, then Okoli intercepted a dangerous Gouiri pull-back with two ready for the tap-in.
Cherki attempted an audacious lob from midfield that was off target, but Italy were frustrated by an extraordinary triple Chevalier save on Fabio Miretti, then Samuele Ricci and eventually Matteo Cancellieri.
Moments later, Gnonto was brought down right on the edge of the box when clear on goal, leading to the Loic Bade red card.
Miretti’s free kick was just over the crossbar, then Chevalier palmed a Gnonto shot into the path of Cancellieri to balloon over from six yards in a huge chance.
Italy did equalise in stoppages when Bellanova’s looping header on a Parisi cross bounced off the inside of the far post and was cleared by Lukeba after it had crossed the line. However, with no VAR or goal-line technology, it was not given.
France 2-1 Italy
Kalimuendo 23 (F), Pellegri 36 (I), Barcola 62 (F)
France U21: Chevalier; Kalulu, Badé, Lukeba, Nkounkou; Koné (Simakan 84), Caqueret, K Thuram (Cherki 64); Barcola (Olise 64), Kalimuendo (Wahi 79); Gouiri (Adli 79)
Italy U21: Carnesecchi; Okoli, Pirola (Cancellieri 75), Scalvini; Bellanova, Rovella (Miretti 75), Ricci (Colombo 88), Tonali, Udogie (Parisi 88); Cambiaghi (Gnonto 46), Pellegri
Ref: Lindhout (NED)
Sent off: Bade 83 (F)
