VAR tested online in Udine as Azzurrini lose 1-0 to Spain

“The FIGC and Lega Serie A believe greatly in this project,” said the director for VAR in Italian football Roberto Rosetti. “They’re working with great seriousness and professionalism to bring forward a very important experiment for the future of football.”  Once more, it was an Italy match being used for a new VAR experiment after the senior side’s match against France on 1st September in Bari. FIFA repeated the test when the Azzurri played Germany in Milan and when the Under-21 National Team faced Denmark. VAR in its online form will continue to be experimented with when the Under-19 and Under-18 Italy teams play France on 22nd February in Bologna and Denmark in Empoli on 8th March respectively.  In terms of the match itself, the first half was balanced with Italy doing well to control the build-up play and restrict Spain. The Azzurrini started the second half strong with three chances for Cutrone as he twice went through on the goalkeeper. Carlos Aleñá scored the only goal in the 66th minute.  The coach Roberto Baronio was happy with the performance but not the result. “The thing that makes me feel calm is the continual development of the group and the football they play,” he said. “The boys did everything I asked of them, I like that they learn quickly but we certainly have to improve our finishing. I’m not happy with the result even if there weren’t points on the line.”  After Spain, there will be another test as the Under-19 side play France at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on 22nd February. 
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