Roberto Mancini insists Italy deserved to beat Finland by more than 2-1 considering their dominance and he could use Stefano Sensi with Marco Verratti in future.
The Azzurri maintained their 100 per cent record in Euro 2020 qualifying thanks to Ciro Immobile’s header and a Jorginho penalty, with Teemu Pukki temporarily equalising from the spot.
Italy have announced that Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti has left the squad due to a suspension.
Verratti helped Italy beat Armenia 3-1 on Thursday to not only maintain their 100 percent record in Group J but also set a new record of five straight wins in European Championship qualifying.
However, the midfielder picked up a yellow card in Yerevan, subsequently ruling him out of Sunday’s trip to Finland.
The Azzurri did just about enough to grind out a win over 10-man Armenia, but it was a reality check for Giancarlo Rinaldi.
It wasn’t pretty nor very much deserved, that’s for sure. If grinding out wins in uninspiring fashion is a symptom of coming down with a winning mentality, then this might be just what the Azzurri team doctor ordered. For the rest of us, enthused by some of the nice football seen in previous outings, a flattering triumph over Armenia felt about as good as chugging down your cough medicine when you are six years old.
Roberto Mancini felt Armenia going down to 10 men “penalised us, as they just focused on defending,” while Stefano Sensi will play for Italy in Finland.
Andrea Belotti bagged a brace around Lorenzo Pellegrini’s glancing header for a 3-1 victory, but it was 1-1 for a long time even after the hosts went down to 10 men.
England international Jesse Lingard reveals he “had to get” Marco Verratti’s jersey when playing Italy. “I always liked him.”
The midfielder went through a collection of shirts he swapped with various stars over the years as part of his YouTube channel content.
“I have always like Verratti as a player,” said Lingard.
“I had to get his shirt. He has got that low centre of gravity and is hard to get the ball off - he's clever.”
Marco Verratti claims games must be stopped for racism, Italy dropping Moise Kean and Nicolo Zaniolo was ‘right’ and that ‘I’m not at PSG for the money.’
Kean and Zaniolo were left out of the latest Italy squad for their show of lateness with the Under-21s, and Verratti hopes their absence will serve as a lesson.
“I think leaving out Kean and Zaniolo was the right decision, with social media now for young players...” the midfielder told Rai Sport.
Nicolas Pepe is set to join Arsenal for €80m and Marco Verratti’s former agent insists Napoli were right to pull out. “The price is excessive.”
The Lille attacking winger had been in advanced negotiations for a move to Napoli, with his agents flying in by helicopter for talks, but Arsenal offered better personal terms and agreed to pay the large commission for his representatives.
“Pepe plays in a puppet league where the only team is Paris Saint-Germain,” Verratti’s former agent Donato Di Campli told Radio Kiss Kiss.
Italy midfielder Marco Verratti has urged Paris Saint-Germain to sell Neymar if he wants to leave the club.
Speculation is rife that Neymar is looking for a way out of PSG, and he would have even sounded out Juventus as a possible destination if a return to Barcelona proves unattainable.
Inter start Nicolò Barella, Stefano Sensi and Ivan Perisic in their friendly against Marco Verratti and Kylian Mbappe’s PSG.
The game kicks off in Macau for the International Super Cup at 12.30 UK time (11.30 GMT).
Coach Antonio Conte has again chosen Perisic for a striker’s role alongside youth team player Sebastiano Esposito, as Mauro Icardi has been frozen out and Lautaro Martinez is still away after the Copa America.
Radja Nainggolan is not even on the bench, as he is considering transfer offers.
Roberto Mancini is developing a clear Italy identity, but Elio Salerno explains the CT also made key tactical changes to defeat Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Italy maintained their 100% record in Euro 2020 qualification as they secured a 2-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Group J, but as expected, they were made to work for it.
Following the 3-0 victory in Greece, Azzurri boss Roberto Mancini chose to make three changes to his starting XI for Tuesday night’s game. Gianluca Mancini stepped in at right back while Federico Bernardeschi and Serie A Capocannoniere Fabio Quagliarella were introduced to freshen up the attack.
