Champions Italy beat Bosnia 1-0 in final pre-Euro 2024 friendly

EMPOLI – Italy pipped Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-0 on June 9 in their final warmup match ahead of the European Championship, but scorer Davide Frattesi and striker Gianluca Scamacca warned that the holders will have to be more clinical in Germany.

It was another largely disappointing performance from Italy, who took the lead in the 38th minute, when Frattesi scored with a superb first-time finish into the roof of the net from a cross by Juventus’ Federico Chiesa.

“There is room for improvement. If we want to be ready, we have to put in something more and we will get there,” Frattesi told RAI.

“We created the opportunities, but we need to manage them better because we will have fewer of them in the group. However, we saw some good things.”

Scamacca, who was twice denied by Bosnia goalkeeper Kenan Piric, echoed that sentiment, telling RAI: “I could have scored more, so there’s still much to improve on.

“We had good chances but we have to take advantage as in the Euro groups we’re going to have fewer of them.”

Italy are in a tough Group B at Euro 2024, where they will face three-time champions Spain, Croatia and Albania.

It was another stellar performance from Frattesi, who is the Azzurri’s top scorer since his debut in June 2022, having found the net five times in 15 games.

The result, however, leaves coach Luciano Spalletti with a lot to ponder ahead of the Euro as they often looked blunt in front of goal.

The Azzurri also went close to falling behind in the opening minutes, but Gianluigi Donnarumma made a fine save to deny a low strike by Bosnia midfielder Haris Hajradinovic.

The Italy goalkeeper made another save in the 18th minute when Bosnia, who are ranked 74th and failed to qualify for Euro 2024, had another good chance through Jusuf Gazibegovic, whose free kick was heading just under the bar.

“We did what we had to do,” Spalletti told Sky Sport Italia. “We are convinced that we have a good team. We will just have to get into the atmosphere of a real match.

“We had two almost completely different teams play, to see them all a bit, because at least we have the opportunity to tell them something that needs to be found to improve things. We don’t have much time.”

Spalletti made nine changes from the 0-0 draw against Turkey on June 5, retaining forward Chiesa and midfielder Jorginho in the starting line-up.

Italy start their Euro 2024 campaign on June 15 against Albania, before facing Spain on June 20 and Croatia four days later.

Meanwhile, France and Canada played out a 0-0 draw in a friendly on June 9 as the two teams concluded their preparations for Euro 2024 and Copa America.

France threatened to take the lead in the first half, but efforts by N’Golo Kante and Marcus Thuram were denied by fine saves from goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.

The stalemate continued in the second half, with both sides creating chances but failing to find the back of the net.

Said France coach Didier Deschamps: “Tonight was a bigger test than Wednesday (a 3-0 win over Luxembourg) and all the better, this is a wake-up call before the Euro.

“There are players at very different stages of physical fitness, Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni were not fit. It was important for us, but it harms the rhythm of the team that we had to spread out the minutes over these two games. Now there is a little break.”

It was France forward and record scorer Olivier Giroud’s last appearance on home soil after announcing his international retirement following the European Championship, and he received a standing ovation at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux.

France face Austria in their tournament opener on June 17, before taking on the Netherlands on June 21 and Poland four days later.

Over in Chicago, a goal from Angel di Maria earned world champions Argentina a comfortable 1-0 win over Ecuador in a Copa warmup on June 9.

Di Maria, who will retire from international duty after the tournament in the United States, gave Argentina the lead five minutes before the break after a through ball from Cristian Romero. However, they were unable to extend their advantage in the second half.

Said di Maria: “It was a deserved win... Ecuador are opponents we could meet in the Copa... Today was a good game to show what we can do.”

Argentina take on Guatemala in another friendly on June 14 before the defending champions kick off their Copa campaign against Canada on June 20. They then play Chile five days later and Peru on June 29.

Ecuador face Bolivia on June 12 and Honduras on June 16 as part of their preparations for the Copa. They begin their campaign at the quadrennial tournament against Venezuela on June 22, before taking on Jamaica four days later and Mexico on June 30. REUTERS, AFP