Di Canio: "Bastoni? Better cocky and someone who delivers than cocky and a tw***"

The former striker applauded the Italian defender’s attitude.

Italy left the Parc des Princes in Paris with a convincing 1-1 draw against France. The result lifts the mood around the Azzurri and offers hope for the future. Alessandro Bastoni made it 1-1 and proved decisive, doing it again as he rebuilds his image with Italy after the still painful flop in the match in Zenica against Bosnia.

That response did not escape Paolo Di Canio, who from the Sky Sport studio did not mince his words when describing the attitude of the Inter defender.

Mancini affected by the criticism
"Taking all the moments into account, I'd pick out two spells from two matches: the first half in Turkey against a team within our reach, when we dominated, and the first half against France, when you have to accept the opposition's possession and their greater quality. That's the perfect mix to make sure this team can become competitive again. Mancini? The criticism has affected him: at first he went too far with his statements, but he is intelligent and he knows that if the results do not come, he will pay double"

“I don’t see Dimarco as a full-back”
"The players are doing the Azzurri shirt proud. I do not see Dimarco as a fourth baseman: he has the legs for it, but he is starting to get on a bit and often, when he gets forward so much, he risks getting injured. It is not easy to play him there and get the same performances he produces for Inter: that does not mean he should not be there, but Mancini must find solutions.
And we should not look only at the final action, because the team also have to work together: the rotation must have mechanisms and a level of technique and imagination in movement that is different from arriving at full speed as he does at Inter."
“Bastoni, the confident one who gets the job done”
"Bastoni? The centre-backs did not have much to do, there was no direct opponent like Pio Esposito, but they were very diligent, alert and well-timed. The fact no easy goalscoring chances came means there was great compactness.
I liked Bastoni's slightly cocky press conference, so long as he produces on the pitch against France: he has absolutely nothing to do with the position for the goal, a midfielder has to be there. Instead he arrives aggressively and then scores: composed, alert and I like cocky players who produce on the pitch. There are two possibilities: either you're cocky and you're an arse...e, or you're cocky and I like you because you produce on the pitch. He is doing that.
They must no longer look at Bosnia. It has to weigh on you, but with personality you let it slide off you and turn it into something that gives you motivation. It helps a manager who has found himself again and who has credibility".