“On Thursday, I even let out a ‘Noooooo’ when Retegui got that ball: I reckon you could hear it everywhere. But it was too crucial a moment, too important a match.
Italy has the usual flaws we often see in Italian football: sideways passing, sluggishness, a lack of verticality, and a lack of character when on the ball. As for the positives, the reaction was important and I also liked the introduction of Pio Esposito, who brought a certain balance.
Up front, all three are good, but Retegui and Kean are a bit too similar. Pio, on the other hand, especially in crucial moments, has that strength and that aerial ability that can prove vital, as well as excellent vision. Retegui hasn’t played for a few weeks and the pace in the Arab leagues is a different matter altogether compared to ours; sometimes you pay the price for a lack of match fitness.