Inter Milan defender Matteo Darmian has won praise for his solid, assured performance for Italy in a friendly win over Ecuador.
Today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, give the 34-year-old a score of 6.5/10 in the player ratings for the match, highlighting his positional intelligence.
Darmian continues to add to his list of caps for the Italian national team.
The former Manchester United and Torino defender played for the Azzurri for the 42nd time in yesterday evening’s friendly match.
Italy coach Luciano Spalletti evidently sees Darmian as an option for the upcoming Euros.
The Azzurri and former Inter, Roma, and Napoli coach has explained that he sees the Inter squad as a “block” to build his team around.
Spalletti switched the formation to a 3-4-2-1 for yesterday’s match.
And this change in shape reflects an approach from Spalletti that will capitalize on the way that the Inter players play at club level.
And Darmian’s performance exemplifies that.
Matteo Darmian Praised For Performance In Italy Win Vs Ecuador
Darmian is a versatile player who can play on either flank as well as in the defensive line in a back three system.
And it was in the latter role that the Inter player lined up yesterday.
Darmian had played at wingback for Italy under Antoinio Conte, as he had done under the same coach at Inter.
But the 34-year-old has become adept playing in the backline at Inter over the last couple seasons.
Darmian proved that for Italy yesterday.
The Nerazzurri defender had to have a good sense of when to push up to support wingback Raoul Bellanova, and when to take a more conservative position.
And Darmian proved to have a perfect sense of when and where he should be.
This was a key foundation to how Italy played both in and out of possession. And it could earn Darmian a place of prominence at the Euros this summer.
