Vincenzo Grifo scored his first two international goals at the age of 27 to help the interim Italy national team, and coach Roberto Mancini missed due to COVID-19 infection, for a 4-0 friendly win over Estonia on Wednesday
Assistant coach Alberico Ivani took charge of the team while Mancini issued instructions from his home in Rome that the 55-year-old would self-isolate after testing positive for COVID-19
Italy, which has extended its unbeaten run to 20 matches, summoned a team of 41 players for match and Nations League matches against Poland and Bosnia, using the match to give less experienced players a chance.
Alessandro Bastoni got his debut in defense while Grifo, who was born in Germany to Italian parents and who has spent his entire career in the Bundesliga, secured his fourth title.
« It was a game where we had everything to lose but we did what we needed to do, » Ivani said. « We tried to play, but we learned some things and there is an extraordinary human quality in this team. »
The first goal came in elegance as Grifo scored a 25-meter half ball that hit the foot of the post 14 minutes later.
Federico Bernardeschi, struggling for fitness at Juventus, cut into the goal and scored the second goal with a low shot inside the near post after 13 minutes
Grifo converted a penalty kick in the 75th minute after a foul on Roberto Gagliardini, before substitute Ricardo Ursolini won and converted another penalty kick in the 86th minute to become two goals in several international matches.
Italy, Estonia, Vincenzo Grifo, Ricardo Ursolini
World News – Britain – International Friendlies: Vincenzo Grifo scores the first goals in Italy’s victory over Estonia