Even Italy has a spot in Sweden. With two goals by Balotelli and one by Abate, the National Under 21 team beats Israel 3-1 in the return playoff match and qualifies for the final phase of the European Championships. And the team advances at the end of a well played match, as was foreseen, because of the importance of what was at stake. Two years of work to save and that is exactly what the Under 21 team did. With determination, forgetting the 0-0 score in Ancona, well aware that the match in Tel Aviv was going to decide their fate.
Conditioned by incurie, Casiraghi sent in the following lineup: Consigli; Motta, Marzoratti, Criscito, De Ceglie; Morosini, Cigarini, Candreva; Lanzafame, Abate; Balotelli.
Italy was precise on defense and tried its counterattack to try to get past their opponents. And after three minutes, Italy went ahead with Balotelli on a free kick from 35 meters off. A cold shower for Israel and for the 16,000 spectators in a sold-out stadium. The Under 21 team was determined and Balotelli is unstoppable: on 25’ he scores his second goal just before the end of the first half, and Lanzafame comes close to scoring twice.
The second half opens with a goalpost hit by Lanzafame and Israel trying to open the match up again on 9’ with a penalty kick scored by Tototamuz. The stadium comes alive, but the Under 21 team insists. Casiraghi sends Bolzoni in for Candreva and Osvaldo in for Balotelli. And on 30’ Abate scores the 3-1 goal with a shot that goes into the right-hand corner.
The team was thrilled at the end of the match and Casiraghi thanked everyone: “the players played an intelligent match – underlined the coach – they were all great, this is a group win. We played well and controlled the field for 90’, and it was not easy in front of so many people in a particular environment; but we were good at staying inc ontrol This Under team is a very high level team: we had a lot of absences but the substitutes did a great job: we have increased the foundation of this team”.