EXCLUSIVE Zenga: ‘Bonucci made difference in Italy win'
There are no tactical lessons in football, what matters is the preparation of each game. Italy read it better thanks to the amazing work of Conte and his staff.
Episodes and single players made the difference eventually. Courtois made a couple of miraculous saves, whilst watching Hazard in first person is astonishing. Of course any defense will always allow a couple of chances with him and De Bruyne on the pitch, but we [Italy] can’t allow counter attacks like the Lukaku one, missed by the Everton striker in the second half.
Giaccherini did not start the game very well. He was struggling a bit with Darmian on Italy’s left-flank but he recovered fastly scoring the opener and blocking Hazard’s attempt from inside the danger area shortly afterwards.
Bonucci made the difference, he’s not only a brilliant defender, he’s the feet of a playmaker. He delivered a perfect 40-year assist for his old teammate at Juventus. He is right when he says that this team has ‘square balls’ and that they will never betray their fans.
I can’t see any decrease of concentration happening in the next two game against Sweden and Ireland. Who’s talking about a risk of excessive ‘euphoria’ has an old conception of the game and is just trying to split hairs. I am modern, happy and positive. If today it’s sunny, it means that tomorrow it won’t be raining.
Walter Zenga, translated by Lorenzo Bettoni @lorebetto
