Italian journalist Mario Sconcerti believes that Inter wing-back Denzel Dumfries should have done better in the situation where he gave away a late penalty to Juventus yesterday at the San Siro.
Writing in his column in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Corriere della Sera, the journalist suggested that the Dutchman’s challenge was naive, while he also gave the view that the Nerazzurri became too defensive in the second half of the match.
Inter took an early lead through Edin Dzeko when the Bosnian turned in a Hakan Calhanoglu strike that had deflected off the post, and they looked to see out the game protecting their slender advantage as the match went on.
The Bianconeri had handed the initiative to Inter in the first half but as the second half wore on they moved the ball more quickly as they looked for an equalizer, although it was only through a controversial penalty that they managed a result.
Sconcerti believes that both teams performances were a reflection of where they are at right now, and singled out Dumfries for criticism after the penalty.
“I saw a foolish penalty,” he writes, “Dumfries kicks like he’s trying to send the ball into the stands, a reckless play on the edge of the penalty area and with the opponent in advance.”
“Inter were good in the first half, too much difficulty in the second,” he continues, “when they were hysterically crushed by a Juve who looked back to themselves at times. It was a better game when they looked to overturn it and not to defend it, with Dybala and Chiesa on the pitch next to Morata.”
“This is the only Juve that can stay up in the standings,” he continues. “The other Juve is valid for a few games, then there is the opponent, the chance, the individual.”
Of the Nerazzurri he writes that “Inter slowed down too much, risked and conceded a goal that was already starting to come . Inter-Juve is the synthesis of this beginning of the season.”
