Bosnia end Italy’s winning run in Nations League

Mancini’s side held to a 1-1 draw in League A Group One match

FLORENCE:

Bosnia ended Italy's run of 11 successive wins when they held Roberto Mancini's side to a 1-1 draw in their Nations League match on Friday.

After both teams hit the woodwork early in the second half, Edin Dzeko put the visitors in front when he fired into the roof of the net with a shot on the turn from a corner in the 57th minute in their League A Group One match.

Stefano Sensi equalised 10 minutes later with a deflected shot after Lorenzo Insigne pulled the ball back.

Italy, playing their first match since beating Armenia 9-1 last November, won all 10 of their qualifying matches for Euro 2020 as well as a friendly against the United States for the longest winning run in their history.

The gap of 291 days between fixtures was Italy's longest since 1945-46.

Italy had dominated the first half against defensive opponents but failed to make much headway.

Armin Hodzic hit the post from a narrow angle for Bosnia after the break and Insigne almost immediately headed against the woodwork for Italy.

"We're disappointed, we tried until the end to score," said Mancini. "There was a bit of tiredness but the boys did well. We just lacked a bit of inspiration. The important thing is that the team played well, the draw doesn't change anything in the judgement of the performance." 

Czechs beat Slovakia 3-1 

The Czech Republic claimed a 3-1 away win over neighbouring Slovakia after finally breaking down their opponents with three second-half goals in their Nations League clash on Friday.

The Czechs pressed high and controlled much of the League B Group 2 match but could not find the cutting edge in the first half in which Sparta Prague's 18-year-old striker Adam Hlozek made his debut as the youngest ever Czech international.

Vladimir Coufal gave the Czechs the lead just after the break when Slovak goalkeeper Dominik Greif parried Jakub Jankto's cross for the Slavia Prague player to slot home.

Borek Dockal notched the second in the 53rd minute when he beat the keeper from the penalty spot after Slovakia's Norbert Gyomber brought down Lukas Masopust in the area.

Michael Krmencík rounded off the Czech scoring in the 86th before Ivan Schranz netted for the Slovaks two minutes later.

Before the match, Slavia boss Jaroslav Trvdik said he would ask to withdraw the club's seven players from the Czech national team squad ahead of Monday's match at home to Scotland due to a positive coronavirus test amongst the staff. 

Netherlands win over Poland

Netherlands forward Steven Bergwijn scored just past the hour mark to secure a hard-fought 1-0 win over Poland in their Nations League clash on Friday as heavy home pressure finally paid dividends at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

The Dutch, runners-up in last year's inaugural edition of the competition, were playing their first game since the departure of coach Ronald Koeman to Barcelona last month but kept up their crisp performances of the last two years.

Bergwijn tapped the ball home in the 61st minute after a characteristic sweeping move from the Netherlands, playing under interim coach Dwight Lodeweges in their League A Group 1 match.

Frenkie de Jong’s sweeping ball and Hans Hateboer’s assist gave Bergwijn the simple task of finishing from close range to score his first international goal.