Italy left Heraklion with a 1-0 win that validates G. Gattuso’s fast-tracked rebuild, the decisive touch arriving from Francesco Pio Esposito in the 18th minute. Greece saw more of the ball under I. Jovanović’s 3-4-1-2, yet they rarely shifted the tempo until it was too late.
Esposito’s goal was built on the early tempo Gattuso demanded: Jeff Ekhator pressed high, recovered possession, and supplied the assist for the only strike of the night. The teenager’s composure from close range rewarded Italy’s 4-3-3 for its aggression between the lines, and it gave the visitors the platform to manage the game on their own terms before half time.
Italy’s structure changed immediately after the interval with Seydou Fini and Filippo Mané replacing Ekhator and Honest Ahanor at 46 minutes, a response to the fouls that had earned Luca Lipani and Ahanor yellow cards in the 38th and 44th minutes. The reshuffle asked Cher Ndour to sit deeper alongside Niccolò Pisilli, reinforcing the half-spaces that Christos Tzolis and Anastasios Douvikas were beginning to probe.
Greece threw three substitutions at the contest on 62 minutes, introducing Kostas Tsimikas, Athanasios Androutsos, and Alexandros Kyziridis. Tsimikas immediately provided width, but Fabio Chiarodia and substitute Luca Reggiani—who had replaced Pietro Comuzzo in the 55th minute—read the aerial service with authority. Donnarumma was scarcely troubled, his one save enough to secure a captain’s clean sheet.
The script threatened to flip once Reggiani, only on the pitch since the 55th minute, was sent off in the 68th minute for a professional foul. Down to ten, Italy slid into a 4-4-1, with Matteo Dagasso and Costantino Favasuli entering at 74 minutes to close the flanks. Favasuli still found time to see yellow for time wasting in the 82nd minute, evidence of just how deep the Azzurri were forced to dig.
Jovanović chased the equaliser with further attacking changes in the 76th and 88th minutes, but despite 58 percent possession, Greece finished with only one shot on target. The numbers underline the problem: territorial control without incision, Tzolis and Douvikas winning duels but never isolating Donnarumma’s back line often enough. Italy’s defensive work rate was summed up by Davide Bartesaghi, who won five of his six duels and drew three fouls while still offering overlapping runs.
Gattuso can frame this as proof that his young core can manage adversity, even in a friendly context. With further tests looming before World Cup qualifying clarifies the hierarchy, he has reasons to trust Esposito’s finishing and Ndour’s authority. Jovanović must convert possession into bite before competitive fixtures return, or else Greece will keep chasing games instead of dictating them.
Key Stats
- Shots on goal: Greece 1, Italy 3
- Total shots: Greece 12, Italy 10
- Possession: Greece 58 percent, Italy 42 percent
- Corner kicks: Greece 2, Italy 3
- Cards: Greece 0, Italy 3 yellow plus 1 red
