Kvernadze’s response to De Gea’s complaints

A hundred years, come what may, only come round once. Perhaps science will find a way for us to celebrate bicentenaries – albeit in bits and pieces – though that would certainly not apply to football teams: with the exception of Fiorentina (and there are those along the Arno who swear this is no pun), who found themselves announcing the celebrations both before and after their inconsequential home league fixture against Frosinone. The hope—indeed, the well-founded certainty—was to make amends for the opening-day debacle, the four goals conceded at the Olimpico and the sense of fragility and inconsistency that has unexpectedly hung over the Artemio Franchi stadium following the transfer window, which was apparently lavish, managed by Fabio Paratici.

First, the procession past Palazzo Vecchio; then the supporters’ stand’s typically splendid display on such grand occasions; later, the parade of the century’s champions: and in between, of course, the by no means insignificant prospect of playing for the three points. Whether it was the thrill of the moment, the whirlwind of emotions at taking to the pitch under the watchful eyes – amongst others – of Gabriel Batistuta and Rui Costa, the tactical organisation of Massimiliano Alvini’s Ciociari (Alvini was born in Fucecchio, in the Florence metropolitan area), the idiosyncrasies of the hypothetical Viola full-backs in defence, or the transfer window still being open – yet no one would probably have imagined such a further thrashing.

The still image of the 0–3 defeat at the hands of the yellow and blues is made up of many pixels: the colourful ones of the purple, white and red flags waving from the stands – the very same colours worn by the supporters as they gathered after the second consecutive setback – Fabio Grosso’s look of concern as he leaves the bench, Cesare Prandelli’s horrified expression and the ‘harsh but fair’ boos from two young lads in official kit. Of course, all well and good, but the sporting reality demands attention: so much so that in the final hours of a frenzied transfer window, the home side’s sporting director Commisso is still ready to turn the team inside out, dismantling hierarchies, captains and certainties.

Upon seeing the team-sheet, one cannot help but notice the young and very young talent scattered across positions and departments: Álex Jiménez, Victor Valdepeñas, Radu Drăgușin, Cher Ndour, Christ Inao Oulaï, Arthur Atta, Franco Mastantuono, Mateo Pellegrino – not to mention the substitutes’ bench. How is it possible that such an abundance of talent does not result in at least some individual attacking initiatives, given that the midfield seems ill-equipped to defend and the flanks are wide open to raids? Yet it is encouraging to see football in the hands of the young, as the first digit of their birth years – 20 – becomes increasingly common, while at the other end of the pitch a similar response comes from a newly promoted provincial side that can only amaze.

It is always clear that football, even when one side dominates, is also shaped by individual moments; it is equally clear that these can be decisive in determining the result: as if that were the only thing that mattered, on a Sunday when the ‘results-oriented’ Massimiliano Allegri was beaten at home by the ‘game-oriented’ Cesc Fàbregas, this time without any media fallout. And even at the Stadio Franchi, Frosinone’s well-deserved victory – cemented by their performance over the full ninety minutes – could well have taken a very different turn, had a glorious veteran and a fresh-faced youngster at the far ends of the two penalty areas not seen their respective decisions with the ball in hand or at their feet lead to disastrous outcomes.

In the 25th minute, Alvini’s team are working the ball down their left attacking flank. Gabriele Bracaglia, a local lad, receives the ball and opens up space for Georgi Kvernadze, a winger for the Georgian Under-21s who lives up to the legend of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The number 17 reaches the byline whilst duelling with Ndour, to whom he might be slightly outmatched in terms of physical strength. However, the winger glides like a butterfly and stings like a bee: he controls the ball with his right foot, prevents it from going out of play and beats his direct opponent, playing it through to centre-forward Antonio Raimondo. Up front, Raimondo finds himself facing two Riace Bronzes in red and white, well-positioned but static, leaving him plenty of space to strike first time.  

The left-footed shot did not look unstoppable, but David de Gea – certainly no novice goalkeeper making his first start – was preoccupied with signalling the ball’s supposed exit: he barely parried it without holding onto it, fell backwards and was let down by the base of the post. As if that weren’t enough, with the score still very much within reach, nine minutes later Ndour himself launched a long ball into open space, finding Mastantuono on the break: the gem on loan from Real Madrid controlled it first-time with his left foot, cutting inside until he drew Bracaglia out, who resorted to rough tactics. As Ilario Monterisi came on, the Argentine had one last burst of energy and fired in a very slow diagonal shot that once again died at the base of the post. The match ended there.