Only one Napoli player was in action on Thursday: Giovanni Di Lorenzo. Alex Meret and Giacomo Raspadori suited up for Italy’s Nation’s League Semi-final against Spain, but neither featured in the match. Likewise, Giovanni Simeone suited up for Argentina’s friendly against Australia but also didn’t feature.
Eliminated
Giovanni Di Lorenzo played the full 90 minutes in Italy’s 2-1 defeat to Spain in UEFA Nations League Semi-final action. Lined up as a right wing-back in Roberto Mancini’s 3-5-2, Di Lorenzo was not hugely influential in the match. In the 73rd minute, with the score level at one, the Napoli captain had an opportunity to put Italy ahead. However, Jordi Alba made a crucial clearance on the cross from Federico Dimarco, who was looking to pick out Di Lorenzo attacking the second post.
Di Lorenzo tended to drift toward the middle of the park, which allowed Jordi Alba to get free on Spain’s left wing, including on Spain’s winner. Jordi Alba’s cross was cleared by Francesco Acerbi, but the ball fell kindly to Rodri at the top of the box. His shot deflected off two Italian defenders before falling to Joselu in front of the goal. The forward, who was played onside by Acerbi, poked the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma and into the back of the goal.
