In a Nations League match between Italy and France, Sebastiano Esposito made a bold but risky decision by taking a penalty instead of his brother Pio, who was the designated taker. With the score at 1-1, Sebastiano placed the ball on the spot, even though he had not yet scored any goal for the national team. Although Pio approached him to ask if he was sure, Sebastiano confirmed his decision. However, his shot ended far from Maignan’s goal, causing a problem and disappointment.
After the mistake, coach Roberto Mancini intervened immediately, substituting Sebastiano with Vergara, who then won Italy’s second penalty. By the time Sebastiano reached the bench, Frattesi had already scored the second goal. Mancini addressed the player in harsh tones, asking why he had taken it when Pio was the designated taker. The intervention of Oriali and Bonucci prevented a bigger scene, and the situation turned into a joke by Mancini, who asked Sebastiano: “Did you want to take this one too?”
After the match, Sebastiano asked to speak to the coach, saying: “Can I explain?” Mancini, already happy with the win, closed the matter with a smile, telling him: “Yes, we’ll talk later.” In interviews, Mancini handled the situation with humor, calling it “a family matter” and stressed that the designated taker was Pio. Pio Esposito, for his part, defended his brother, stressing that Sebastiano was a good penalty taker and that both their names were on the list of takers. Sebastiano closed the matter with an Instagram post, writing: “I’ll dream about that cursed penalty… Thank you Pio.”
From La Gazzetta dello Sport