Di Biagio lined up the team with a 4-4-2 formation; Cragno started in goal, while the defence was made up of Conti, Rugani, Romagnoli and Murru; Bernardeschi and Benassi played as wingers, Cataldi and Mandragora as central midfielders; Boateng and Cerri played up front. Italy created at least six good chances in the first half, but the Azzurrini were not clinical enough to convert.
Di Biagio’s team kept playing with the right attitude in the second half and had other big opportunities to take the lead, but Slovenian goalkeeper saved shots from Boateng and Cataldi, whilst Benassi’s attempt from the edge of the box went just wide. Di Biagio then made the decision that would change the game. He replaced Bernardeschi with Monachello. It was then Monachello who gave Italy the lead in the 71st minute, his first ever goal for the U21 side.
The lead made Italy more confident and Monachello managed to score his brace in the 84th minute through a left footed shot from the edge of the box. Captain Benassi then made it 3-0 to the Azzurrini three minutes later, after being assisted by the man who stole the show in the second half Monachello.
The Azzurrini rightly celebrated after the final whistle, but coach Di Biagio stayed grounded: “These are three important points,” admitted Italy’s manager, “we are now second, but we still need to improve. It was a similar game to the first one we played against them. We still need to adjust some things and play at a quicker pace. We’ve still got a long way to go to get to where I would like my team to look like.”
Italy’s next opponent will be the Republic of Ireland in a Euro qualifier due to take place in Vicenza next Tuesday: “It will be a tough game, like all the games against northern teams, who play with a lot of physicality. They constantly press and never give up. That’s why we need to be able to play quicker.”   ]]>