Sandro Tonali once again proves key to Italy resurgence despite red card setback

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Sandro Tonali and Italy put on another great performance on Thursday night.

The return of the Newcastle United from over ten months suspended, has coincided with a resurgence of his national team’s fortunes and performances.

September saw a stunning 3-1 win in Paris, Sandro Tonali getting a great assist.

Then playing his second full match within days, the Newcastle star helping Italy to another away win, this time against Israel.

Last night it was Belgium the visitors and the new look attacking Italy, with Sandro Tonali at the heart of things, swiftly went 2-0 up in 24 minutes.

Italy taking the lead in Rome after only 61 seconds through Andrea Cambiaso, then the second from Mateo Retegui 23 minutes later.

The home side cruising but then Lorenzo Pellegrini with a daft studs-up tackle on Arthur Theate’s ankle took Italy down to ten men five minutes before half-time.

Belgium pulled on back within two minutes of that red card, Maxim De Cuyper with the goal, then when Leandro Trossard equalised just after the hour mark it looked a tough ask.

However, Sandro Tonali and his teammates did an excellent job, Italy coming away with a point despite having to play for around an hour with a man down.

That keeps them top of their Nations League group, though only one point above France, three clear of Belgium.

Sandro Tonali played until the 80th minute and put in a great shift, the Newcastle United player one of a number of players subbed off late, as Italy looked to see the draw out.

After the match, Sandro Tonali spoke to RAI Sport:

“It was a positive performance.

“The red card is part of the game and we have to accept that.

“We proved that we can play good football and it was difficult to confirm the good work [once down to ten men] that had been seen in the first two games, as people expected a lot from us.

“However, we were that team in the first 40 minutes.

“The game changed after the red card.

“Especially with Belgium immediately scoring from the free-kick.

“But for an hour we held out well against a tough opponent.

“In the first 40 minutes, you could tell that we were enjoying our football.

“That is something that was missing over the last year.

“It is the approach which we like the most.

“That turned into suffering when we went down to 10 men but we remained solid and united, to finish the game with heads held high.”

Italy are at home against Israel on Monday night in their next Nations League group match.

This is the October 2024 international schedule for Newcastle United players:

Thursday 10 October

England 1 Greece 2

Nick Pope and Tino Livramento watched from the bench as Anthony Gordon started, with Odysseas Vlachidomos in goal for Greece in this Nations League group game.

Lee Carsley going with an experimental set-up that saw Bellingham play as a false number nine, Gordon on the left wing.

A team that failed on the night, whatever the system. This was no flukey win as Greece had the ball in the back of the net five times, only for VAR and the linesman’s flag to save them on three occasions. England only had two efforts on target all night, both from Bellingham – one bringing a brilliant save from the Newcastle keeper and the other one he was unsighted for and unlucky with, as he still got a hand to it.

Saka, Gordon and Foden all replaced in the second half but it made no difference, only Bellingham emerging with any credit.

As much as you can say things didn’t work out going forward, England lost because Pickford and his defence were absolutely woeful. Whilst Vlachodimos and Greece have only lost one (not including a penalty shootout v Georgia) of their last nine now and that was to an 89th minute goal away against Germany.

Chile 1 Brazil 2

Bruno Guimaraes was one of the players dropped for this World Cup group qualifier, a desperate Dorival Junior under extreme pressure, having only won three of his last nine games, after having won at Wembley against England in March, in his first game in charge.

The changes only made things worse! Even though Brazil up against second bottom of the group Chile.

Vargas gave Chile the lead after only two minutes and indeed could and should have been at least two or three up by the break.

Instead, Brazil carried their luck and Igor Jesus gave them an undeserved equaliser with a glancing header on the stroke of half-time. That could have been easily disallowed as it looked a foul in the build up before the cross was put in.

Even despite that goal, Dorival Junior had seen enough. Gerson and Bruno Guimaraes brought on for the second-half.

That did prompt some improvement and Brazil would have taken the lead, as a move initiated by a great pass from Bruno Guimaraes, then saw Raphina released just inside the Chile half, he put the ball in the net but replays showed he’d gone too soon and was offside.

Reaching the 89th minute another dismal result in prospect for Brazil. Then Bruno Guimaraes picked the ball up and passed to Luiz Henrique, who produced a wonderful finish to win it so late!

Italy 2 Belgium 2

Sandro Tonali put in another excellent performance in this latest Nations League match.

The Newcastle United midfielder helping his team go two up inside 25 minutes, only for a daft Pellegrini studs-up challenge seeing a red card setback for Italy on 40 minutes.

Having to play for around an hour with 10 men, Italy did really well to end up with a point, as Belgium brought it back to 2-2 with goals on 42 and 61 minutes.

Sandro Tonali one of a number of late substitutions, as the Newcastle star and others taken off so fresh legs could see out the draw.

Friday 11 October

Slovakia v Sweden (Emil Krafth) Nations League

England U21s v Ukraine U21s (Lewis Hall) U21 Euros group qualifier

Sunday 13 October

Finland v England (Nick Pope, Tino Livramento, Anthony Gordon) Nations League

Greece v Republic of Ireland (Odysseas Vlachidomos) Nations League

Monday 14 October

Italy v Israel (Sandro Tonali) Nations League

Estonia v Sweden (Emil Krafth) Nations League

Tuesday 15 October

Paraguay v Venezuela (Miguel Almiron) World Cup group qualifier (UK time, kick-off early hours of Wednesday)