TOPS
If the Bleuets finally won against Italy (2-1) this Thursday, for their first match at the Euro U21 in Romania, Lucas Chevalier is not a total stranger. The Losc goalkeeper intervened five times, regularly saving his team on his line. He distinguished himself in the first half on a surgical header from Salvini at close range, deploying acrobatically to get the ball out. After the break, he made an important double save (81st) to give his team confidence and save two points. Precious.
Two goals scored after a parade of misses in the warm-up match, that’s reassuring. If there is still something to do better, it is difficult to say anything about the offensive animation. Caqueret, Barcola, Gouiri, Cherki, Kalimuendo: all midfielders and offensive players showed themselves to their advantage. The level seems very homogeneous after this entry into the running and everyone contributed. We remember the combinations between Caqueret, Barcola and Gouiri which brought the goal of Kalimuendo (23rd). In the second half, there was the tumble of Cherki, who magnificently doubled the passes without finding a shooting position afterwards. We feel Blueberries who want to play together, a positive point for the future.
FLOPS
This is the big black spot of this evening, on the tricolor side. Sylvain Ripoll’s men suffered on all Azzurini’s attempts from a set piece. It was also on a free kick struck by Sandro Tonali that they cracked in the 32nd minute. Pellegri, had no trouble getting rid of the marking of the defense to place his head. The ball lodged in the goal of Lucas Chevalier, helpless. In the second half, the Italians did not give up and hurt in this area of play, causing Kalulu’s hand (not whistled) and scoring a goal not validated by the referee (90 2).
Bad referee decisions or lack of technology? Look no further: both. Because if we strongly regret the absence of the Var and the goal line technology, the arbitration decisions spoiled the meeting. Thus, Italy could have benefited from a penalty for a visible hand from Kalulu in their own area and could have seen Bellanova’s header register the equalizing goal in the 92nd minute. The ball was well and truly in for a short time, but the referee did not validate the goal. It’s a shame, because the match was very pleasant to follow and these incidents spoiled the party.