The stage was set at the Wembley stadium in London on Tuesday (June 1) evening for a titanic battle between the EURO 2020 champions Italy and Copa America 2021 champions Argentina. Be that as it may, the result of the encounter didn’t pan out as anticipated. Argentina completely dominated the game and whipped Italy 3-0 to win the finalissima 2022. There are numerous things to see from Argentina vs Italy contest. Here are the seven key takeaways from matchup.
The Major Outcomes from Argentina vs Italy Match
Argentina were the way better side in the contest in terms of stats-wise and overall impact. They began to press the Italian defense from the start and found the back of the net three times in the match. Argentina were denied by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on several occasions, otherwise, the scoreline could have been even worse for Italy. Let’s analyze the finalissima 2022 match and what the two sides might take from the contest.
Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina’s unbeaten run continues
Argentina’s head coach Lionel Scaloni wasn’t too concerned about their two-year unbeaten run before the Italy match. His only focus was to test the strength of the squad by playing against a competitive European national team like Italy. In addition, winning the finalissima 2022 would add another trophy to his name. Thankfully, Scaloni’s team responded well during the game and won the contest quite comprehensively. With this victory, Argentina now have gone undefeated in 32 games. They need to continue the streak for six more matches to break Italy’s 37-match unbeaten record and set a new record.
Read Messi inspires Argentina to 3-0 Finalissima win over Italy
Lionel Scaloni brings back the old Gutsy Argentina
For an unknown reason, the Argentina team was missing their traditional style of play for a brief period. But things started to change when Lionel Scaloni was appointed as head coach in 2018. He has transformed the squad with his vision and philosophy. Scaloni brought back the old gutsy Argentina who are ready to give all on the field, show athleticism, and try to win a battle in a one-to-one situation.
One of the major things Scaloni has developed is that he has strengthened the defense. Besides, the work rates of the midfielders have significantly improved, which is why the attackers have felt less pressure and can show more versatility up front.
Argentina proves South American football is competitive
A few days ago, French forward Kylian Mbappe told the media that South American football isn’t as competitive as European football. The remarks got some critical response, especially from the South American players and pundits. With a thumping 3-0 victory over Italy, Argentina showed the world that South American football is very much at the same level as European football.
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Argentina are among the top favourites for FIFA World Cup 2022
Many people don’t want to label Argentina as hot favourites to lift FIFA World Cup 2022. The performance against Italy was a great response to their critics. Many of them may consider them now a serious contender to win the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Happy Lionel Messi is fun to watch
Whenever Messi feels loved by teammates and enjoys football, stopping him is the most difficult task for the opposition. Messi is regarded highly by his national side mates. Moreover, everyone in Argentina's dressing room wants to win a World Cup for him. This is the motivation they have injected to thrive for the best. Lionel Messi enjoys playing alongside them. Messi was joyful to watch against Italy, assisted twice, and won the player of the match award.
Should Roberto Mancini Step Down from Managerial Role?
Italy head coach Roberto Mancini has done a pretty good job with the Italy national team. He was appointed as head coach of Italy after they failed to qualify for World Cup 2018. He has transformed the Italian side since then and guided them to win European Championship in 2021 for the first time in since 1968.
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However, things haven’t worked out as planned since the Nations League finals last year. Maybe the time has arrived for Mancini to reconsider his position with the national side.
Do Italy Need Massive Overhaul in Squad?
Some of the big names would reconsider their future with the national side. One of them is Giorgio Chiellini who has retired after the finalissima 2022 match. Apart from him, Leonardo Bonucci’s future is also under a cloud. Italy’s performance against Argentina was completely disappointing and they were no way near to their best.
A massive overhaul may not be a good idea but a fresh start is needed for this Italian national side. Right now, their focus should be on finishing top in their group of UEFA Nations League 2022-2023 and building a strong squad for the EURO 2024.
Read UEFA Nations League 2022–2023: The Tournament's Third Edition Begins on June 1st
Afterward
The Argentina vs Italy finalissima 2022 match was jointly organized by the UEFA and CONMEBOL to strengthen the relationship between the two powerful football governing bodies. Before this, finalissima was contested twice, where France winning the inaugural edition in 1985 and Argentina winning in 1993. This is the second time, Argentina have won the trophy, making it the most successful team in the competition. Finalissima 2022 attracted worldwide football fans, so this one-off contest is a huge success.
In terms of outcome, Argentina should be happy with the way they dominated and won the contest. The confidence they gained from the contest would help them to perform even better in the upcoming 2022 World Cup. On the other hand, Italy’s performance was horrific. They were no way near to their best which they showed in the 2020 EURO competition.
Read UEFA Champions League Overview: Complete Winners List from 1956 to 2022.