“We need to find humility” were Milena Bertolini’s words on the eve of the game against Iceland, and that’s exactly what she got. In their second group game of Euro 2022, they got off to the worst possible start conceding after just three minutes, but took back control in the second half in large part with the introduction of Bonansea, who not only provided the assist for Bergamaschi’s equaliser but agonisingly hit the post, which would have given Italy the lead. “We played very well, we responded to the early goal, thanks to our work as a collective”, said Head Coach Bertolini at the final whistle. The Azzurre have somewhat redeemed themselves after the crushing defeat in their opener against France, putting their first point on the board. To get to the quarter-final stages, a win against Belgium is needed hoping that France can do the job in their final two games, starting against Belgium later on this evening. At the end of the game, Bertolini was feeling hopeful: “It’s in our hands. We know we need at least 4 points to get through. Today, the girls did really well, because it isn’t easy to come back after losing an early goal. Thanks to our effort as a collective group, and playing some nice football on the deck, the goal was the result of this and the heart and spirit put into the performance. The girls needed to play in that way”.

The match – Milena Bertolini completely changed the Azzurre’s tactics lining up in a 4-4-2 system compared to their normal 4-3-3, making five changes to the starting eleven that started against France. Giuliani was in goal; Gama and Linari once again as the central defensive pairing, with Guglielmo and Boattin having licence to roam up and down the flanks. In centre midfield, Giuliano and Galli were replaced by Simonetti and Rosucci with Bergamaschi and Caruso out wide. Up front, Piemonte and Giacinti were preferred to Bonansea and Girelli. Italy were immediately on the back foot from the off though, and were one down from Iceland’s first attack within three minutes. A long throw-in from the left caused havoc in the Italy defence, who were unable to clear the ball, and Vilhjálmsdóttir pounced to place it in under the crossbar. Slightly stunned, Italy tried to get themselves going and get some composure but it was Iceland again who looked dangerous with Gunnarsdóttir shooting just over on seven minutes, after a bit of pinball in the area. The Italians found it tough going and were wayward with the chances that came. On eleven minutes, Bergamaschi shot high and wide, after a one-two with Piemonte, whilst on 20 minutes, Caruso’s shot was weak and too central to cause Sigurdardottir any concerns. Three minutes later, they risked going two down: Rosucci lost possession on the right hand side but Jónsdóttir’s shot, aiming for the near post, went just wide of the target. The Azzurre had to wait until almost the half-hour mark to make any attempt of note: on 26 minutes, some nice inter-linking play between Bergamaschi and Simonetto found Piemonte in some space but her attempt flew just wide. Italy got some confidence and Bergamaschi tried to surprise Sigurdardottir with a rasping low drive but the Iceland shot-stopper got down well to save. On the half-hour mark, Giacinti’s free-kick came to nothing, and in the closing stages of the half, Simonetti played through Piemonte but she failed to find the all important equaliser.

After the break, Milena Bertolini looked for more incisiveness in the final third and chose to replace Caruso with Bonansea, and the change had an immediate effect with her cross for Piemonte well-anticipated and swept up by the Iceland defence. On 54 minutes, Gunnarsdottir attempted a shot from distance but it failed to give Giuliani any problems, as she watched it go behind. Italy started to move through the gears though, and built up a head of steam. On 60 minutes, a Boattin cross was met by Giancinti, whose header just missed its intended target; a minute later, they were nearly sucker-punched as a free-kick from Gísladóttir arrived at Jóhannsdóttir’s feet, whose shot whisked past the post to Giuliani’s left. But the equaliser arrived soon after. Bonansea, on the left, turned Vidarsdóttir inside out and pulled her cross back for Bergamaschi to run onto and slot away sweetly past Vidarsdóttir’s left. Galvanised by the equaliser, Italy didn’t let up and within 60 seconds should have taken the lead. Bonansea first failed, after agonisingly hitting the post on 73 minutes; then, Simonetti chested down and fired a right-footed strike only to miss the goal by inches. Italy pushed and pushed looking for the lead: Girelli’s header from a Boattin corner was too weak to cause the Icelandic keeper any problems, and sub Sabatino completely missed a ball in from the right whilst in front of the goal. There was a nervous moment on 89 minutes when Arnadottir got down the right and crossed in for Jonsdottir, but Giuliani read it well and got ahead of the striker to smother the ball. That was the end of the action and so it finished 1-1 at the Manchester City Academy Stadium, with both teams earning a point each, and Italy keeping their European dreams alive.

 

Italy-Iceland 1-1 (0-1 half-time)

GOALS: 3’ Vilhjálmsdóttir (ICE), 62’ Bergamaschi (IT)

ITALY (4-4-2): Giuliani; Di Guglielmo, Gama (58’ Bartoli), Linari, Boattin; Bergamaschi, Simonetti, Rosucci, Caruso (46’ Bonansea); Piemonte (52' Girelli), Giacinti (85' Sabatino). Subs: Schroffenegger, Durante, Filangeri, Lenzini, Galli, Giugliano, Bonfantini. Head Coach: Bertolini

ICELAND (4-3-3): S. Sigurdardottir; E. Vidarsdottir, Viggosdottir, G. Arnadottir, Gisladottir (88’ Gunnlaugsdottir); G. Jonsdottir (57' Johannsdottir), Brynjarsdottir, Gunnarsdottir (77' Gudmundsdottir); S. Jonsdottir, Thorvalsdottir (58' Albertsdottir), Vilhjalmsdottir (88' Magnusdottir). Subs: I. Sigurdadottir, Jensen, Arnadottir, Atladottir, Andradottir, Sveinbjornsdóttir. Head Coach: Halldorsson

Referee: Lina Lehtovaara (Finland)

Bookings: Bergamaschi