SM
Barcelona vs. Brann: 9 hrs 17 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
European Under-21s Championship | Group Stage
Jun 21, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
PN

0-0

 
FT

Live Commentary: Italy Under-21s 0-0 Portugal Under-21s - as it happened

:Headline: Live Commentary: Italy Under-21s 0-0 Portugal Under-21s - as it happened: ID:229462: from db_amp
Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of the European Under-21 Championship between Portugal and Italy in Group B.

Portugal under-21s have remained top in Group B after sharing a goalless draw with Italy Under-21s in the European Under-21 Championship this evening.

Italy came closest to scoring when Andrea Belotti hit the crossbar early in the second half, but neither side managed to find the back of the net.

The draw leaves Italy bottom in the group with just one match still to play.

Read how all the action unfolded below.

Good evening! Group B has just been blown wide open by England's 1-0 win over Sweden. A win for Portugal tonight would leave them three points clear at the top of the table, while a win for Italy would leave all four teams on three points with one round of fixtures remaining. Let's start with a look at the teams.
ITALY STARTING XI: Bardi, Biraghi, Rugani, Romagnoli, Zappacosta, Crisetig, Benassi, Battochio, Cataldi, Belotti, Berardi
PORTUGAL STARTING XI: Sa, Esgaio, Ilori, Paulo Oliveira, Guerreiro, Carvalho, Rafa, Sergio Oliveira, Silva, Mario, Mane
There's a host of changes for Italy as they try to put the misery of their defeat to Sweden behind them. There are five changes, with Cristiano Biraghi, Alessio Romagnoli, Lorenzo Crisetig, Marco Benassi and Danilo Cataldi all coming in.
There are two changes for Portugal too, who are now considered one of the favourites for the tournament after beating England. Silva Rafa and Carlos Mane are both handed starts, leaving Ricardo and Ivan Cavaleiro on the bench.
Ahead of this match, Italy coach Luigi di Biagio told reporters: "It will be a crucial game and I think that this team can still go far in the competition. We didn't push for a second goal against Sweden with enough determination, and we regret that. This team has always given their all to reach their aims and that will be the same tomorrow. The most important thing is to play as a team as we did in the first half against Sweden."
Meanwhile, Portugal coach Rui Jorge said at his press conference: "It will come as no surprise to anyone that I watched Italy's game against Sweden but I also watched every single game they played in qualifying. We know exactly how good the Italian squad is and one not-so-good 45 minutes isn't going to change our opinion. Italy's strength lies in their defensive quality, individually and as a group. They're also a threat on the counterattack and their style of play is extremely efficient against a team like us who like to dominate a game based on ball possession."
Here's the Italy squad going through their warmup a few minutes ago:

PREDICTION! The players are due to head out shortly, so it's time for a prediction. Portugal have the edge coming into this match on the back of a confidence-boosting win over England, but Italy will be desperate to prove themselves. It will be interesting to see how all the changes affect Italy too. I think Portugal will just have the edge tonight though, so I'm going for a 2-1 win for the Portuguese.
As always, the anthems from both countries will be played before kickoff. The stadium is only about two thirds full with just a few minutes to go until kickoff, but there's a decent amount of singing from the stands.
The anthems are over so the teams come together for their team photographs. With England winning earlier, defeat would not eliminate Italy from the tournament today, but it would leave them needing more than a bit of luck to progress.
KICKOFF! Italy get the action underway!
CHANCE! Italy waste no time going on the attack, forcing Jose Sa to make a save less than 30 seconds into the match as Marco Benassi blasting the ball towards the goal from the edge of the box, forcing a corner.
Italy have certainly made the brighter start, with Berardi and Belotti both trying to get forward for the Azzuri. Silva Rafa tries to create something for Portugal though with a run down the right, but Romagnoli is there to make the block.
CHANCE! Sa has to make another save as Berardi provides the through-ball for Belotti, leaving his strike partner to try to fire into the bottom left, but the Portugal stopper is there to make the save.
Portugal have their first corner of the match as Romagnoli has to take the ball away from Mario to stop him getting a cross in. Bardi makes sure that the Portuguese can't create anything from their set piece though, confidently claiming it.
Zappacosta wins the ball back in the middle for Italy, eventually getting it to Berardi, who sends in a dangerous looking through-ball, but it goes straight through to Sa. Italy have been much more positive in the start of this match than they were at the start of their clash with Sweden.
Portugal have a throw in near the corner flag, which Guerreiro uses to find Rafa, but he can't penetrate the Italy box. Portugal have made a couple of bright moves, but haven't really created that much to test the Italy defence.
Williams Carvalho sets up Sergio Oliveira with a curling pass out wide. The winger takes a touch to move him to the edge of the box before lining up the shot, but it ends up going well wide.
Berardi is looking a real handful in the centre as he dictates the tempo of the match. He makes a break down the right before whipping it in towards Belotti, but Sa gets to it first.
The Italians win a free kick in a promising position as Rafa Silva clatters into the back of Biraghi around 30 yards out. Berardi lines it out, but his powerful strike is blocked by Joao Mario.
After a rather frantic opening 10 minutes, it's all settled down a bit in the last 10 minutes or so. Italy look the more likely still, but Portugal are defending well to limit their chances.
CHANCE! Jose Sa pulls off a spectacular fingertip save to deny Marco Benassi for the second time this evening as the midfielder drills it in low looking for the bottom left corner, but the keeper manages to just divert it around the post.
Bardi needlessly tips the ball behind to give away a corner, but Carlos Mane drifts offside as Joao Mario plays it in, wasting the opportunity for Portugal.
Guerreiro has really struggled to settle for Portugal as he tries to cope with Berardi's pace. The left-back comes out from the back to try to help out in attack, but he leaves space for the Italy striker on the counter-attack, leaving Ilori to rescue the situation.
CHANCE! Portugal's best chance of the match so far falls to Joao Mario as Bernardo Silva squares the ball in to the winger. He just needs to turn it in at the near corner from a couple of yards out, but manages to slice it just wide of the upright. That's a big let off for Italy.
Portugal have been looking the more likely in the last five minutes, and they're on the attack again as Mario plays the ball in for Esgaio, but the defender's finish doesn't trouble the keeper.
CHANCE! Italy string a series of passes in quick succession together through midfield as they try to create an opening goal just before the break. Biraghi slides the ball through to Berardi, but his finish it straight into the hands of Sa.
Italy are finishing on the front foot as Zappacosta sends in a dangerous cross. Esgaio gets his foot to it, and it could have gone anywhere, but he just manages to slice it wide.
HALF TIME: Italy Under-21s 0-0 Portugal Under-21s
So it's all square at the interval as a much-changed Italy head into the break goalless with Portugal. Italy have had more chances, but the best opportunity so far was arguably that of Joao Mario. It's still all to play for after the break.
In the opening 45 minutes, Portugal actually saw more of the ball with 57% possession. Italy had twice as many shots though with six, four of which were on target. Portugal are yet to force a save from the Italy keeper, with all three of their finishes going wide.
Here's a shot of Andrea Rugani trying to open the scoring. Domenico Berardi has been absolutely key for Italy this evening. He hasn't had many chances himself, but he's been a dominant force in midfield, and has created most of Italy's openings so far:

The players are getting ready to head back out for the second half.
RESTART! Portugal get the second half underway.
OFF THE BAR! Andrea Belotti hits the crossbar just moments after the restart as he meets a high ball into the box, nodding it beyond Sa in a bid to open the scoring, only to see it come back off the woodwork.
PENALTY APPEAL! The Portuguese coaching staff are jumping around on the sideline as Rafa Silva takes a tumble in the box under pressure from Zappacosta, but he went down rather easily, and isn't fooling the referee.
The tackles are flying in early in the second half as Biraghi and Belotti both get a talking to from the referee after giving away a couple of free kicks before Berardi is tripped by Sergio Oliveira, allowing Italy to force a corner from the resulting free kick.
CHANCE! The initial corner is cleared, but Berardi is there to quickly curl it back in, delivering it into the path of Marco Benassi, but he couldn't quite get his toes to it. The slightest of touches would surely have taken that past Sa. It wouldn't have counted though, as the midfielder had been offside.
SUB! Portugal are making the first change of the match, taking off Rafa Silva for Goncalo Paciencia.
CHANCE! Benassi tries his luck from range as he creates some space around 25 yards out before driving the ball towards goal, but it flashes just wide.
CHANCE! Jose Sa is having to pull off some impressive stops to keep Portugal in this match as Christian Battocchio is the latest to stretch the keeper, but once again he pulls off the stop, claiming the dipping effort from the edge of the box.
SUB! That shot will be Battochio's final contribution as he makes way for Federico Bernardeschi.
BOOKING! Bernardeschi hasn't taken long to attract the attention of the referee as he's in the book just three minutes after coming off the bench for a foul on Bernardo Silva.
Italy soon have a free kick of their own as Mario trips Berardi, but the striker finds himself offside as the ball is driven forward into the box. Italy are starting to look a little frustrated as they continue to create more chances, but fail to break the deadlock.
Portugal force a corner as Silva makes a run into the box, but sees his cross go behind. He delivers it back in, but Bardi, who hasn't had much to do, is quick off his line to make the catch.
BOOKING! The referee is reaching for his cards again as Cristiano Biraghi goes in late on Silva, earning himself a booking.
CHANCE! Italy come agonisingly close again as Zappacosta gets the better of Guerreiro out wide to provide Belotti with a well-placed cross, but he somehow manages to slice it wide from just a few metres out. For a moment that looked in, and the striker holds his head in his hands as he realises his error.
Portugal are back on the attack as chances continue to come at both ends of the pitch. Goncalo Paciencia hurries his finish, blasting the ball well high, before Silva gets a chance a few moments later, but scuffs it wide.
CHANCE! A stunning ball forward from Benassi falls for Belotti, who takes a touch before unleashing a dipping effort, but is doesn't trouble Sa.
SUB! Marcello Trotta comes on for Italy, replacing Lorenzo Crisetig.
CHANCE! Paciencia has been lively since coming off the bench and he has another shot, but this one is well blocked by Rugani, who has had a solid evening at the back for Italy.
SUB! Portugal make a change, with Joao Mario heading off for Toze.
It still feels like there could be a goal in this match, but time is rapidly running out. Toze tries to get involved after coming off the bench, but finds himself being flagged for offside before he can get on the end of Oliveira's ball forward.
SUB! Federico Viviani is coming on for the Italian, taking the place of Andrea Belotti.
BOOKING! Alessio Romagnoli is booked for catching Iuri Medeiros late. It was a necessary challenge though, as the substitute was about to cross in for Mane in space in the Italy box.
CHANCE! From the resulting free kick, Williams Carvalho, who has been relatively quiet, tries to jab it past the Italy keeper, but Rugani is back to make the block, turning it behind for a corner.
CHANCE! Francesco Bardi is finally called upon to make a save as Medeiros attempts to drive the ball into the bottom left from the right hand side of the box, but the keeper blocks it with his legs.
There are four minutes of stoppage time for both teams to try to find a late winner.
BOOKING! Paciencia is the first Portugal player to be booked for pulling Viviani back by his shirt.
CHANCE! Danilo Cataldi is in the right place at the right time as a Trotta effort is parried back to the winger on the edge of the box, but he miscues, leaving the ball to bounce before being claimed by Sa.
CHANCE! Having almost made it to the 90th minute before making his first save, Bardi is called upon again as Toze is through after a quick counter, but his first touch is poor, leaving his shot to fly straight at the keeper.
CHANCE! Neither side are letting this go as Biraghi gets forward to help out for Italy, but the left-back makes a real defender's shot as he collects a through-ball from Benassi only to roll it straight into the hands of the keeper.
FULL TIME: Italy Under-21s 0-0 Portugal Under-21s
Well it was a frantic finish, but neither side could find the elusive late winner as the teams shared a goalless draw. The result leaves Italy bottom in the group and needing to win against England in their final group fixture. Portugal sit top in Group B with four points.
That's all from this match, but join us again on Tuesday evening when the final matches in Group A will be taking place. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye.

amp_article__229462 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2015-06-22 00:16:07:
html db last update - 2021-02-21 06:26:03 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .