Italy dominated but were hit with a 90th-minute sucker punch. In their first match of the latest edition of the Elite League, Bollini’s team failed to score in San Benedetto del Tronto despite creating numerous chances. An inspired performance from Cagliari winger Jacopo Desogus, who won a first-half penalty that was then missed by Panada, wasn’t enough for the Azzurrini, who also hit the post through Bonfanti in the second half. The Poles had to work very hard to contain Italy before finding the net with their only chance of the game, with Odra Opole centre-back Maksymilan Tkocz scoring after a scramble following a corner late on. It’s a tough one to take for Italy: “I can’t criticise my lads, who displayed the right attitude,” said the Head Coach. “We dominated throughout, playing our game and creating a lot. However, we needed to be more clinical. In any case, the mentality displayed today will help the group and individuals to grow, and I’m sure we’ll do well.”

Italy 0-1 Poland

Goalscorer: 90' Tkocz

ITALY (4-3-3): Sorrentino (87' Garofani); Barbieri, Riccio (87' Papetti), Dalle Mura (C) (90'+3 Savona), Ruggeri (74' Cittadini); Milanese (74' Florenzi), Panada (90'+3 Di Stefano), Sekulov (46' Mercati); Cudrig (46' Tongya), Da Graca (74' Bonfanti), Desogus. Subs: -; Head Coach: Bollini.

POLAND (3-4-2-1): Tobiasz; Szymański, Peda, Tkocz; Marczuk (85' Talar), Gerbowski (46' Rakoczy), Biegański (C), Ibe-Torti (64' Iskra); Pyrka (78' Stępień), Walicki (64' Cielemęcki); Szymczak (78' Kocyla).
Subs: Bieszczad (GK), Makuch, Bukowski, Kužma, Ojrzyński (GK), Kasperowicz. Head Coach: Stępiński.

Referee: Matteo Marchetti. Linesmen: Giuseppe Macaddino and Marco D'Ascanio. Fourth official: Giacomo Camplone.

Bookings: 43' Pyrka, 69' Panada, 70' Peda

Italy’s calendar

7 June 2022: ITALY 0-1 Poland
23 September 2022: Portugal vs. ITALY
17 November 2022: Romania vs. ITALY
21 November 2022: ITALY vs. Czech Republic
23 March 2023: Norway vs. ITALY
27 March 2023: ITALY vs. Germany