Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ITALIAN JOB TOO BIG FOR BARA...
ITALY 2 N. IRELAND 0
ITALY served up a slice of Parma Harm as a gutsy Northern Ireland performance ended in defeat in last night’s World Cup opener at Stadio Ennio Tardini.
It had threatened to be more a baptism of fire than a first course of Group C action when the Azzurri cruised into a 2-0 lead at the break.
But the visitors ensured Roberto Mancini’s star studded side, who are now unbeaten in 23 games, didn’t dine out on a feast of goals in the second half.
Gavin Whyte, Michael Smith and Paddy Mcnair
– who blazed over from close range at the death – all had chances to reduce the deficit in the second half.
Ian Baraclough will wonder why it took his players 45 minutes to ask serious questions of the Italians who didn’t look as fluid or comfortable on the back foot.
Any thoughts of an historic night in Parma evaporated in the first half and the Italians were ahead in the 14th minute thanks to impressive Sassuolo winger Domenico Berardi.
PSG full-back Florenzi flighted a simple ball over the top, Berardi spun in behind Stuart Dallas and raced clear to arrow a rising shot past the exposed Bailey Peacock-farrell.
It was an unerring finish from the 26-year-old who took his international tally to four goals in 10 caps in ruthless fashion.
Italy’s second was equally clinical as Immobile (left) rounded off a breathtaking move that travelled almost the entire length of the pitch.
It took only 14 seconds between Michael Smith crossing into the Italian area at one end to Ciro Immobile rifling past a flailing Peacock-farrell at the other. Blink and you would have missed it.
AC Milan ‘keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma threw the ball to PSG’S Verratti, he found Insigne and the Napoli forward helped it on to Immobile who blasted home from just inside the area.
The Lazio striker’s shot was hit with venom, but it’s hard to argue that Peacock-farrell shouldn’t have done better with the near post effort which fizzed through his hands.
It was 2-0 at the break, but in truth it could have been more, with goal scorers Berardi and Immobile at the heart of the danger.
Immobile shot into the ground after losing Jonny Evans early doors and also forced a close range block from Peacock-farrell after