Four Napoli players were in action on Sunday: Matteo Politano, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Stanislav Lobotka and Hirving Lozano. Alex Meret was on the bench for Italy’s match against Malta, backing up Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The Full 90′
Matteo Politano and Giovanni Di Lorenzo both started in Italy’s 2-0 victory over Malta in UEFA Euro qualifying action. The pair combined well on Italy’s right wing and were the primary source of crosses in the Italy attack. At the half hour mark, Di Lorenzo did well to control Matteo Pessina’s pass before picking out Vincenzo Grifo in the area. The substitute should have scored but shot straight at Malta goalkeeper Henry Bonello.
Di Lorenzo was cautioned for a tactical foul in the 36th minute and was subsequently removed at the break, with Italy up 2-0. Meanwhile, Matteo Politano played the full 90 minutes for the first time in any competition since April 18, 2021; prior to Luciano Spalletti commencing his tenure at Napoli. Politano was very lively on the right wing and continued to show a willingness to cross the ball with his weaker right foot.
Calzona’s First Win
Stanislav Lobotka played the full 90 minutes in Slovakia’s 2-0 victory over Bosnia & Herzegovina. The Napoli midfielder played in his usual regista role in Francesco Calzona’s 4-3-3 formation. As he does regularly for Napoli, Lobotka often tracked back to help defend and was pivotal in building out of the back.
Lobotka also contributed in attack, being involved in both of Slovakia’s goals. In the 13th minute, Lobotka assisted on the opening goal of the match, playing the return pass on a short free kick routine. In truth, Robert Mak did most of the work, dribbling towards the top of the box before firing a low shot into the bottom corner.
Lobotka was more involved in the second goal, winning the ball in the Slovakia third before dribbling 40 yards to the Bosnia & Herzegovina third. He then stopped on a dime, turned and squared the ball to Ondrej Duda in the middle of the park. Two passes later, former Sassuolo player Lukáš Haraslín struck a curling shot to the bottom corner.
Lobotka nearly added a second assist late in the match from a free kick. The midfielder cleverly picked out the run of Tomáš Suslov in the area, but the substitute was unable to control the ball on the bounce.
Lobotka was greeted with a standing ovation from the home fans when he was substituted in stoppage time. Meanwhile, it was Calzona’s first win since vacating his role as Napoli’s technical manager to becomes Slovakia’s head coach
On to the Semis!
Hirving Lozano played the full 90 minutes in Mexico’s 2-2 draw against Jamaica in the pouring rain at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. The Napoli right winger lined up on the left side of Mexico’s front three and was heavily involved in the Mexico attack throughout the match.
In the opening minutes, Lozano tested his luck with a shot from a tight angle that struck the outside of the frame of the goal. In the 6th minute, he chased the ball down on the left wing before playing a give and go with César Montes. El Chucky then teased a cross into the area for Héctor Moreno to head towards the top corner, but Jahmali Waite made a fine save to keep the ball out.
After Jamaica opened the scoring with a screamer from Fulham midfielder Bobby Reid, Lozano helped Mexico draw level. The winger played a give and go with Luis Chávez on the left side of the area before cutting the ball back in front of the goal. Henry Martín got a slight touch on the ball before it fell to Orbelín Pineda, who finished the chance from close range.
Jamaica went back ahead in the 32nd minute from an Edson Álvarez own goal before a rain delay temporarily halted the action. About ten minutes after play resumed, Lozano very nearly gave Mexico the lead but his shot from distance rocked the bar and stayed out.
Lozano was ultimately rewarded for his positive play when Mexico were awarded a penalty kick in the final minute of the first half. The Napoli winger confidently converted the penalty kick as Mexico equalized for the second time in the match.
Though Mexico had clear chances in the second half, including a narrow miss from Lozano in stoppage time, the 2-2 draw was sufficient for the home side to finish top of CONCACAF Nations League Group A and advance to the Semi-finals of the tournament.
