Inter midfielder Nicolo Barella has been criticized for his display in the Italian national team’s 2022 World Cup qualifying draw with Switzerland yesterday by Italian media.
The 24-year-old received a mediocre 5/10 grade in the player ratings for the clash published in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Corriere della Sera, who suggest that the midfielder was far from his best and that the game passed him by.
The Azzurri went behind early against Switzerland in a match where a win for either side would have just about sealed automatic progression to the 2022 World Cup, but a Giovanni Di Lorenzo header later in the first half saw them level.
In the end, Roberto Mancini’s men were unable to find a winner despite pushing for one at times and had to settle for a point, with Barella unable to have much of an impact up until he was taken off midway through the second half.
The 24-year-old was not completely fit after having come off during the second half of last weekend’s derby against AC Milan, and the Corriere suggest that while he showed no lack of effort his play was imprecise and looked leggy.
