A fantastic performance from Italy in their first game of the European Qualifiers resulted in a resounding 5-2 victory against hosts Kosovo. The scoreline could have been much more emphatic, particularly the Azzurrini’s two missed penalties in the first half which meant they only led by a goal at the interval thanks to Pafundi (who, along with Scotti, missed from the spot). Corradi grilled the players at the break which had an instant impact: Finocchiaro and Scotti scored three goals to extend the visitors’ lead. Pafundi fully redeemed himself after the penalty miss by scoring the fourth goal (and his second of the game). Kosovo responded through Gashijan who reduced the deficit with a long-distance strike, which was immediately cancelled out by a fifth goal for the Azzurrini, scored by Mannini. Mulaj got the hosts’ second but the victory, which could have been more emphatic, was never in doubt for the Italians. 

The game. Bernardo Corradi set the team up in a 4-3-1-2 formation with with Martinelli in goal; a back line of Della Mora, Verde, Ramaj and Cocchi; a midfield of Riccio in front of the defence, and Mendicino and Mannini (C) in more advanced roles; and Finocchiaro was at the front of the diamond in midfield, behind Pafundi and Scotti up front. Italy started strongly, with a high press that put the Kosovan defence under immediate pressure: so much so that after just 5 minutes the first chance to take the lead came in the form of a penalty. The Inter defender Matteo Cocchi, who was very active in the box throughout, was brought down. Simone Pafundi, Udinese striker, stepped up to the plate, but hit the post from the spot. Corradi’s boys didn’t throw in the towel though, and continued their suffocating attacks, calling goalkeeper Salihu into action on three occasions in an eight-minute window. Pafundi, Finocchiaro and Mannini tested the opposing ‘keeper in the 11th, 13th and 19th minutes. The Azzurrini kept going and after 26 minutes Pafundi was able to redeem himself after the missed spot-kick to give his side the lead. Italy were fierce in attack but also wasteful: in the 36th minute Ahmeti’s foul on Pafundi in the  box forced the referee to award another penalty. This time Scotti took it, but the Milan player had his shot saved. Italy went in 1-0 up at half-time. 

The break clearly helped the team regroup, at least in the efficiency of the front line. The Azzurrini capitalised early in the second-half with a ruthless one-two that gave the Kosovans no chance. Gabriele Finocchiaro (Juventus) with a lovely right-footed strike, and then Filippo Scotti with a solo effort just two minutes later, put the Azzurrini into a three-goal lead. The Kosovan coach looked for a quick response from his players, and they created two chances, but the Italians didn’t lose their concentration. In the 54th minute Scotti’s effort was tipped onto the bar by Salihu. Only moments later the fourth goal, and Pafundi’s second came, beating the goalkeeper with a delightful shot (4-0). The Udinese forward was subbed off shortly after, and was the fourth substitution made by the coach, giving the boys a breather. After a defensive mishap Kosovo’s Gashijan scored their first goal in the 76th minute from distance, but was immediately cancelled out by Mannini’s effort six minutes later. But the action wasn’t over yet: another shock from Kosovo from substitute Mulaj was the last goal of the game which saw victory for Corradi’s boys on the road. 

The second match of the European Qualifiers will be played on Saturday 16 October against Finland, who won 2-1 today against Greece, leaving Italy in first place in Group 8. 

Group 8 Schedule:

Matchday 1 (5 October):

13.00 CEST: Finland 2-1 Greece

16.00 CEST: Kosovo 2-5 ITALY

Table: Italy and Finland 3 points, Kosovo and Greece 0 points.

Matchday 2 (8 October):

13.00 CEST: Kosovo vs. Greece (Zahir Pajaziti Stadium, Podujevo)

16.00 CEST: ITALY vs. Finland (Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri, Pristina)

Matchday 3 (11 October):

13.00 CEST: Kosovo vs. Finland (Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri, Pristina)

16.00 CEST: ITALY vs. Greece (Zahir Pajaziti Stadium, Podujevo)

Squad List:

Goalkeepers: Tommaso Martinelli (Fiorentina), Francesco Tommasi (Inter);

Defenders: Matteo Cocchi (Inter), Tommaso Della Mora (Inter), Gabriel Ramaj (Atalanta), Thomas Renda (Fiorentina), Edoardo Sadotti (Fiorentina), Alessandro Ventre (Juventus), Francesco Verde (Juventus);

Midfielders: Francesco Crapisto (Juventus), Gabriele Finocchiaro (Juventus), Mattia Mannini (Roma), Leonardo Mendicino (Atalanta), Simone Pafundi (Udinese), Lorenzo Riccio (Atalanta), Marco Romano (Genoa);

Forwards: Federico Ragnoli Galli (Atalanta), Emanuele Rao (Spal), Tommaso Ravaglioli (Bologna), Filippo Scotti (Milan).

Staff - Technical Staff: Bernardo Corradi; Head of the Delegation: Filippo Corti; National Youth Team Coordinator: Maurizio Viscidi; Technical Assistant: Massimiliano Favo; Goalkeeping Coach: Davide Quironi; Fitness Coach: Adalberto Zamuner; Match Analyst: Andrea Loiacono; Doctors: Francesco Maria Nifosi, Attilio Romano, Alessandro Carducci e Alessio Rossato; Nutritionist: Claudio Pecorella; Physiotherapists: Fabrizio Casati ed Enrico Matera; School Tutor: Stefano Presciutti; Secretary: Massimo Petracchini