MY ACCOUNT
Giacamo Raspadori scored twice as Italy bounced back from their World Cup qualifying disappointment with a 3-2 victory over Turkey.
The Sassuolo forward struck in each half for Roberto Mancini’s side in the battle of two beaten playoff semi-finalists at in Konya.
Cengiz Under had given the hosts an early lead that was cancelled out by Bryan Cristante’s header, while Serdar Dursun netted a late consolation for Stefan Kuntz’s men.
The reigning European champions maintained their unbeaten record against Turkey, having now avoided defeat in all 13 meetings between the sides.
Although lacking the firepower of Burak Yilmaz, who immediately announced his international retirement after the defeat to Portugal, Turkey took the lead after just four minutes.
Marseille winger Under – on loan from Serie A side Roma – drifted away from Giorgio Chiellini, before his shot squeezed under the dive of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Italy responded in the 35th minute as Cristiano Biraghi’s free-kick was powered home by the head of Cristante.
And the Azzurri completed the turnaround just three minutes later when Sandro Tonali fed Raspadori, who drilled past Altay Bayindir.
The Sassuolo striker grabbed his second in the 69th minute, neatly slotting home after Biraghi cushioned a looping cross into his stride.
Dursun halved the deficit when he scrambled home from a corner seven minutes from time.
It then took magnificent reflexes from Donnarumma to deny the Fenerbahce striker a dramatic equaliser soon after, as Kuntz’s side suffered their first defeat in 12 on home soil.
What does it mean? A good response from Italy
Fresh from failing to qualify for a second successive World Cup, Mancini must have feared the worst when Italy fell behind early on.
However, they responded well and survived a late scare to register only a third win over 90 minutes in their last 11 matches.
Raspadori at the double
The Sassuolo striker trebled his international goal tally with a brace in Konya.
Leading his country’s line for just the third time, Raspadori registered four shots on goal – a tally only matched by Under and Gianluca Scamacca – while no player bettered his two on target.
A pair of assists for Biraghi
Biraghi provided a constant attacking threat with his deliveries down Turkey’s right flank.
The Fiorentina defender led the way with nine crosses and six from open play, while his total of three key passes was only bettered by Under (four).
What’s next?
Both sides turn their attention to the Nations League on June 4, when Italy host Germany and Turkey welcome the Faroe Islands. Three days earlier, the reigning European champions take on Copa America winners Argentina at Wembley.
