This Saturday, Italy won the bronze medal at the European Rink Hockey Championship, in Barcelona, with a victory on penalties over Italy (4-3, after 5-5), in the match that precedes the final between Portugal and Spain.
France, without Carlo di Benedetto through injury, reached the break leading 2-0 and, in the second half, Italy came from 3-1 down to draw 3-3, forcing extra time, which ended 5-5.
On penalties, it was necessary to score 16 for Italy to claim victory in the tiebreaker of the match, 4-3, and consequently the bronze medal of the Eurocup, repeating the position on the podium of the last two editions in Paredes, in 2021, and Coruña, 2018.
The French team, ranked second in the last Euro Cup and which in this edition was eliminated from the final by Portugal (5-2), opened the scoring with two goals from Roberto di Benedetto, in minutes 16 and 17, the second from a direct free kick.
After a foul by the Portuguese-French Anthony da Costa, penalized with a blue card, in the 23rd minute, Italy had a direct free kick to close the gap, but Giulio Cocco could not get past goalkeeper Alan Audelin.
Despite the fact that the Italian team was in a ‘power play’ (with one more player on court), it was France that created a magnificent opportunity to increase the lead through Leo Savreux, in minute 25, but goalkeeper Riccardo Gnata did not allow it.
Without Checco Compagno, who suffered a broken nose and jaw in Friday’s loss on penalties against Spain (3-0, after 4-4), or Francisco Ipiñazar, due to injury, Italy scored a goal through Élia Cinquini (2-1), in the 26th minute.
The game then saw several dangerous shots saved by both goalkeepers, until Remi Herman put France up 3-1 in the 30th minute, converting a penalty.
In the 38th minute, assisted by Andrea Malagoli, Alessandro Facin reduced for Italy (3-2), and after France wasted a penalty to increase the lead, by Rémi Herman, the transalpines forced extra time with a goal by Andrea Malagoli (3-3), in the 46th minute, from a direct free kick.
In extra time, after France failed to score twice, through Anthony da Costa, in the 51st minute, and Bruno di Benedetto, in the 54th minute, Italy took the lead for the first time in the match through Davide Gavioli (4-3), in the 54th minute.
Italy opened the lead with Giulio Cocco’s 5-3, in minute 57, but the French team did not give up and returned to equality at 5-5 with goals from Roberto di Benedetto, from a direct free kick, in minute 57, and his brother Bruno, in minute 58.
On penalties, the advantage fell to the Italian team with the 16th shot, by captain Giulio Cocco. Italy ends the European Championship in third position and France in fourth.
Source: TSF
