Simone Zaza made the most of the suspended Mario Balotelli’s absence up front by scoring the opening goal to pave the way for Italy’s comfortable 2-0 win over Norway in their Euro 2016 Group H qualifier on Tuesday.
The US Sassuolo striker, surprisingly brought into the squad by new coach Antonio Conte, struck with a deflected shot after 16 minutes, before also hitting the crossbar and having an another effort cleared off the line before being substituted.
The 23-year-old Zaza repaid Conte’s faith immediately, winning a penalty on his debut in the 2-0 friendly victory over Netherlands in Bari, Italy, on Thursday last week before scoring in Oslo.
Photo: Reuters
“He is a player of great desire and pride, and he and the others have given a good example of that tonight,” Conte told a post-match press conference.
Norway offered little resistance, enjoying plenty of possession in front of a sell-out crowd, but failing to threaten Gianluigi Buffon’s goal.
Their best attacks came down Italy’s left flank as live-wire Mats Moeller Daehli displayed his full bag of tricks and dribbles, but the winger faded in the second half, as did the home team’s chances.
Missing Balotelli and playmaker Andrea Pirlo, Conte’s first competitive game in charge saw him field a relatively young team that favored industry over flair.
With Mattia de Sciglio and Matteo Darmian playing wide in a five-man midfield, Italy began by probing the spaces behind Norway’s fullbacks.
Conte’s team defended from the front, with Zaza and Ciro Immobile energetically leading the chase to win the ball back when their side gave it away.
The visitors took a fortuitous lead when Zaza’s effort took a deflection and wrong-footed goalkeeper Orjan Nyland before bouncing into the net.
Norway’s defense was too passive for the goal and should have shut down the Italy striker before he shot.
Captain Leonardo Bonucci again punished Norway in the 62nd minute, rising unmarked to power home a downward header from substitute Manuel Pasqual’s cross.
Italy could have made it 3-0 in the 77th minute when Zaza went one-on-one with Nyland, but his rising shot cannoned back off the crossbar and Alessandro Florenzi’s header from the rebound was palmed away by the goalkeeper.
Zaza had another one-on-one with Nyland a few minutes later. This time his delicate chip was cleared off the line and he was replaced by substitute Mattia Destro soon afterwards.
Conte said his side played an “almost perfect game.”
“It’s important to create that kind of team spirit, a team with a capital ‘T,’” he added.
Elsewhere in Group H, substitute Ventsislav Hristov’s late header gave Bulgaria a 2-1 victory in Azerbaijan.
Additional reporting by AP
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping