European football’s most storied rivalry was renewed at the San Siro yesterday, as Italy played host to a rather depleted Germany team. The match, while not exactly a classic encounter, had its moments and kept viewers engaged through the length of the game as it finished in a 0-0 stalemate between the two powerhouses.
Gianluigi Buffon made a European record-equalling 167th appearance for the Azzurri. This game was also used as a testing ground for the new VAR system, which is still being improved upon by UEFA currently.
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Here are the player ratings from the game:
Italy
Gianluigi Buffon – 7/10
The legendary Italian goalkeeper played his 167th international game like any other game of his life: solid, dependable and alert to danger. Buffon was replaced at half-time by Donnaruma.
Daniele Rugani – 8/10
The 22-year-old Juventus academy graduate, playing only his third game for the national team, looked hardly out of place against the world champions. Rugani put in an exemplary shift to keep Muller and Kevin Volland in check.
Leonardo Bonucci – 7.5/10
Alongside youngster Rugani, Bonucci managed to keep Thomas Muller chanceless for over 60 minutes of the game. It was a good day in the office for the 29-year-old, who is one of the world’s best central defenders today.
Alessio Romagnoli – 7/10
Romagnoli put in an accomplished display for 45 minutes, before being replaced by Daniele Astori. Romagnoli’s showing will encourage manager Ventura to keep the faith in Italy’s new generation of defenders.
Davide Zappacosta – 7/10
The right wing-back did a tidy job of keeping out Germany's forays from the left wing, chipping in with a couple of important blocks. Not a bad showing for the youngster.
Matteo Darmian – 6/10
The Manchester United defender started on the left wing-back position had an average game yesterday, as his final ball in attack left much to be desired.
Danielle de Rossi – 7.5/10
The elder statesman of the Italian midfield put in a vintage display in midfield, helping to keep Germany’s unorthodox 6-man midfield in check on the night. de Rossi’s impact improved as the game wore on.
Marco Parolo – 8/10
Parolo was the best midfielder on the pitch yesterday as he displayed boundless energy in closing down spaces for the German midfield. He came into his own in the second half.
Eder – 5/10
Eder did not have the best of outings, as he drifted in and out of the game before being replaced by Bernardeschi for the last 20 minutes.
Andrea Belotti – 8/10
Belotti was the liveliest attacker on the night, making things happen with his movement and turning and causing problems to the German backline. He had a shot come off the woodwork late on.
Ciro Immobile – 7/10
Immobile put in a tidy shift, never running out of ideas or energy. He was unable to, however, capitalise on the one half-chance he got, shooting wide of the far post.
Substitutes
Davide Astori – 7/10
Like Romagnoli, Astori remained untroubled and showed great composure during the second half.
Gianluigi Donnarumma – 7/10
The Milanese teenager looks set to command Italy’s penalty area in the years after Buffon’s retirement, and he proved this notion in the second half yesterday with another tidy outing in goal.
Federico Bernardeschi – Unrated
The 22-year-old winger came on in the 68th minute foe Eder.
Germany
Bernd Leno – 7/10
Leno had a good day in office. Not much came by his way in terms of saves, but he commanded his penalty area expertly during the Italian attacks (especially in a few periods during the second half)
Benedikt Howedes – 6/10
Howedes was caught flat-footed while tracking a couple of runs from Immobile, but overall, the Schalke veteran did enough to merit a starting berth and keep his reputation intact.
Shkodran Mustafi – 8/10
He was the best, most consistent defender on the pitch all night long, as he dealt with everything thrown his way by the Italian forward line. Mustafi did not lose his composure for even one move.
Mats Hummels – 7/10
Hummels was taken off after half-time, and the defender was conspicuous by his absence from the pitch as Italy upped the ante in the second half. Hummels put in a decent shift while he was on the pitch, making no mistakes of note.
Joshua Kimmich – 6/10
Kimmich was lively in attack and acted as Germany’s attacking hub on the right wing, putting in many good crosses. On the defensive end, however, he was left rather exposed as Italy’s front three played narrowly and Darmian on the overlap drew him out of position.
Sebastian Rudy – 6/10
Like most of his teammates, Rudy played better in the first half than in the second period. His passing was top-notch, but the Italian midfield overran his defensive covering later on in the game.
Julian Weigl – 6/10
Weigl began the game in lively fashion, but his performance faded significantly after the break. He was brought off for Mario Gotze with around 20 minutes remaining.
Yannick Gerhardt – 6/10
Unlike Kimmich on the other flank, Gerhardt was quite circumspect when it came to taking the ball into the forward areas. Gerhardt was defensively solid, though.
Leon Goretzka – 7.5/10
Goretzka fired a few shots on goal in the first half and made his presence felt in the forward areas as Germany’s most enterprising attacker in the first half. He was taken off after an hour for Serge Gnabry.
Ilkay Gundogan – 7/10
Gundogan was a livewire and covered every blade of grass on the pitch yesterday. He was unable to continue his Man City goalscoring form, however, as the Italian defence kept him in check.
Thomas Muller – 5/10
Muller had a forgettable outing, never really finding his footing in the central areas. He was forced to drift out into the wide areas to get the ball, and not with much success at that either.
Substitutes
Kevin Volland – 6/10
Apart from the disallowed goal, Volland did not have many noteworthy moments in his 30 minutes on the pitch. He did apply himself to the task, however, and kept Italy’s defenders occupied with his running.
Jonathan Tah – 5/10
His lack of pace was apparent yesterday as he was beaten to a couple of 50-50 challenges. Tah did not look too comfortable against Italy’s front three.
Serge Gnabry – 5/10
Clearly, Italy were not as easy to play against as San Marino and the former Arsenal youngster struggled to make a mark on the game in 30 minutes.
