Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi has won plaudits for his match-winning performance for Italy against Ukraine yesterday.
The 23-year-old received a score of 8/10 for his display in the player ratings for the match published in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.
Frattesi got his chance to start in yesterday’s EURO 2024 qualifier.
The former Sassuolo midfielder, who joined Inter from the Neroverdi over the summer, replaced Sandro Tonali in the lineup.
New Azzurri coach Luciano Spalletti made a few alterations compared to the team that drew against North Macedonia last week. The former Napoli and Inter coach had no hesitation to freshen the team up in his second match in charge.
And of all Spalletti’s changes, giving Frattesi the nod was the one that had the biggest impact.
Davide Frattesi Praised For Powering Italy To 2-1 Win Vs Ukraine
Italy clearly needed something different compared to what they’d shown in a turgid draw against North Macedonia.
And Inter midfielder Frattesi provided exactly the dimension that Spalletti’s Azzurri team to sparkle.
The 23-year-old’s explosive running and positional sense were just what Italy needed to link midfield and attack.
It was Frattesi who scored both Italy’s goals in the first half of the 2-1 win.
The Nerazzurri man showed just why he has developed such a reputation for getting on the end of chances in the penalty area.
In both occasions, Frattesi was alert whilst the Ukraine defense dawdled. First after teammate Mattia Zaccagni had won the ball back high up to quickly play him in, then to a loose ball inside the penalty area.
And both of the Inter midfielder’s finishes were unerring, drilled into the net.
But as the Gazzetta stresses, these two good finishes were only the tip of the iceberg of Frattesi’s performance.
All match long, it was the 23-year-old’s surging runs from deep and positional sense that breathed life into the Azzurri midfield.