Destro determined to turn Italy's luck
Thursday, July 22, 2010
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The leading scorer in qualifying with eight goals, Mattia Destro has drawn a blank in his two finals appearances – something the Italy striker is aiming to correct on the last day of Group B.
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Italy striker Mattia Destro cut a frustrated figure as the Azzurrini drew a blank for the second successive UEFA European Under-19 Championship game to leave their Group B hopes hanging in the balance.
Destro struck eight times in six qualifying appearances – more than any other player – yet he and his team-mates have failed to find the net in two matches in Basse-Normandie, a 2-0 defeat by Portugal preceding Wednesday's goalless draw against Croatia. "During qualifying if I hit the same shot which the goalkeeper saved today, I am 100% sure it would have been a goal," Destro told UEFA.com after the Croatia stalemate. "Unfortunately at this European Championship it's all going wrong. We just need the luck in the next game and that will allow us to put the ball in the net."
Their solitary point puts Massimo Piscedda's men bottom of the standings, two points behind second-placed Portugal, although Destro is taking heart from an improved showing in their second outing. "We struggled in the first half but responded well in the second. Overall it was a good game," he added. "We had to win and then go looking for the victory in our last match, but unfortunately we didn't manage that first part."
Despite his travails in France, the FC Internazionale Milano forward has plenty to look forward to, having joined Genoa CFC on loan for the 2010/11 campaign this week. "I am very happy to get the chance to go to Genoa, it's a great club," said Destro, the 18-goal top scorer for Inter's U19 side last season. "My first objective is not to score goals, but to show what I can do and make sure people get to know me."
For now, however, he is focused on ensuring Italy record a win in their final fixture against Spain on Saturday – the only result that will give the Azzurrini a chance of staying in the competition – when he believes his strike partnership with Fabio Borini will come good. "I've always had an excellent understanding with Borini," he explained. "We know each other very well as we've been in the same team since U16 level, and we're friends as well as team-mates." Will that be enough? "It will be very hard for us, but we absolutely have to beat Spain and let's hope we can progress."
