Alessandro Bastoni admits he “did not expect to score two goals” in two Nations League matches, but emphasizes that “if Italy can play like this against France in Paris, it can do it against anyone.”
The Inter defender had not played for the national team since that disastrous red card he received in the World Cup playoff against Bosnia-Herzegovina, which saw the Azzurri miss qualification for the third consecutive edition of the tournament.
His return has been extraordinary: first the goal in the 4-1 away victory against Turkey, then the one he scored this evening to make it 1-1 against France in Paris.
“It was a difficult match, we knew it would be, that is certainly nothing new, but I am truly happy with the team’s performance,” Bastoni told RAI Sport.
“We fought hard, we suffered and we also ruined some of France’s plans for this evening, since they were ready for a big celebration. We knew we had not come here for a stroll, and that is exactly how it was.”
Bastoni was certainly not the player Italy expected goals from, yet he is currently the Azzurri’s top scorer in Roberto Mancini’s second tenure.
“It is definitely a satisfaction to score again, but at the moment I did it I thought we had to make sure we did not concede another goal, otherwise we would have lost everything. This is a good result that increases our confidence for the future,” Bastoni explained.
In recent months it was not only the red card that affected him, but also an off-field scandal that had led some to call for his departure from Serie A.
“I did not expect to score two goals, but I have never lost confidence in myself. I will not let one or two situations ruin a career of over 300 matches. I thank my family for standing by me and I hope that having kept my head high is seen as something positive,” added the defender.
France has not kept a clean sheet against Italy since the 0-0 of September 2007, having conceded 10 goals in the last seven meetings.
After Dayot Upamecano’s sending off in the final minutes, Italy pushed in search of a possible winning goal.
“We believed in our chances of winning from the start and, in fact, we had the best opportunities in the first half to break the deadlock. It is an important sign, because if we can put in a performance like this against France in Paris, then we can do it against anyone,” Bastoni concluded.
“Now there is another match in this series and we take nothing for granted, it will be another important test.”