Barella: ‘Set plays a problem, but Italy on right track’ after awful EURO 2024 | OneFootball

Nicolò Barella acknowledges it is ‘a bad sign’ Italy conceded their last six goals from set plays, but also trusts they are on the right track following the 3-1 defeat to France in the Nations League.

Both teams were already qualified for the quarter-finals going into San Siro this evening, so the Azzurri knew that the 3-1 win they had in Paris put them in a position where even a defeat by a one-goal margin would suffice to top the group.

However, they were defeated 3-1 at home by two Adrien Rabiot headers and a Lucas Digne free kick that ricocheted in off the crossbar and then Guglielmo Vicario’s back.

Andrea Cambiaso had the only Italy goal and Moise Kean forced a desperate Mike Maignan save in stoppages.

Barella sees Italy improvement in Nations League

epa11726513 Italy’s midfielder Sandro Tonali (L) and France’s midfielder Manu Kone struggle for the ball during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Italy and France at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan, Italy, 17 November 2024. EPA-EFE/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO

“It was certainly a difficult match, as France are a great team, but we fought to the end,” Barella told RAI Sport.

“We conceded three goals from set plays, which is a bad sign, but France showed they respect us and it is just another step in a Nations League journey that had started well.”

This means each of the last six goals conceded by Italy have been from set play situations and surely that is a problem that Luciano Spalletti needs to work on.

“Certainly, it’s disappointing to lose like that, but we had our chances too and could’ve done better. A defeat is always painful, but you also need to analyse how they came about. Let’s not forget the much worse situation we rebuilt from in the summer.”

Barella missed the first two sets of Nations League matches due to first surgery on his nose, then a muscular issue, so the 1-0 win in Belgium and this game were his first Italy appearances since the dismal EURO 2024 campaign.

“I see it as a positive Nations League, because the objective was to qualify and we did that. Finishing first would’ve been a bonus, but we did what we needed to,” insisted the Inter man.

Barella was also captain of the Azzurri this evening, as Gianluigi Donnarumma was ruled out by a stomach bug.