Pio Esposito scored twice as Italy beat France 3-1 in the Nations League on Thursday, earning their first victory over Les Bleus on home soil in 64 years. The 21-year-old forward took his tally to nine goals for Italy in just 14 matches, and his performance went some way towards erasing the memories of Italy’s World Cup playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Esposito’s second goal came from the penalty spot in the 75th minute, sealing the result at San Siro. It was the first spot kick he had taken since missing one in the penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina, a result that saw the Azzurri fail to qualify for a third straight World Cup.
“When I stepped up to the penalty spot, that memory came back to me, but I couldn’t hide for the rest of my life. You have to summon the courage to take them,” Esposito said.
A family affair
The penalty carried extra weight for the Esposito family. Pio’s older brother, Sebastiano, had missed a spot kick 15 minutes earlier, when the score was still 1-1.
“There was also an added responsibility: to make people forget my brother’s mistake,” Pio said. “When he made that mistake, it was tough for me, too, and I had to seal the result for his sake as well.”
Italy coach Roberto Mancini appeared as surprised as most at San Siro when Sebastiano stepped up to take the earlier penalty, which he blazed wide. After the match, Mancini confirmed that Pio was top of the penalty takers’ list, with Sebastiano second.
“It was a family thing,” Mancini said with a smile.
When Italy earned the second spot kick, Mancini turned to Sebastiano, who had already been substituted off, and jokingly asked whether he wanted to take that one too. Both men laughed.
A remarkable rise
Esposito’s progress has been rapid. He was playing in Serie B, on loan at Spezia, until the start of last season, before a breakout campaign back at Inter Milan.
The crowd of nearly 71,500 at San Siro gave him a standing ovation when he was substituted off in stoppage time.
Esposito could also eventually take over from Gigi Riva as Italy’s all-time record scorer. Riva holds the mark with 35 goals, a record that has stood for 52 years.
“We hope he can score a lot more, because it’s been a lifetime that Gigi Riva is at the top,” Mancini said. “We hope someone surpasses him for the good of the national team.
“Certainly Pio has a great score at the moment, compared to the matches played.”
What comes next
Italy travel to face Belgium next, and a win would seal their place in the quarterfinals as group winners. Italy lost at home to Belgium in Mancini’s first match back in charge, but the side has looked transformed since then.
“I am happy that I and we are doing well,” Pio said.