The new Italy era began with a very creditable 1-1 draw against Germany, as Lorenzo Pellegrini’s goal was cancelled out by Joshua Kimmich, but 18-year-old Wilfried Gnonto made a dream debut with an assist.
The Azzurri were decimated by injuries and sent many veterans home to rest, as the new era began with the Nations League at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna. There were 10 changes from the side that lost 3-0 to Argentina in the Finalissima, including debutant Davide Frattesi.
Serge Gnabry stung Gianluigi Donnarumma’s gloves at the near post and Alessandro Florenzi charged down Thomas Muller’s shot, while Manuel Neuer had to smother at the feet of Gianluca Scamacca.
Italy went close on 35 minutes, first with Frattesi drilling wide, then Scamacca’s daisy-cutter from distance smacked against the base of the far post.
Goretzka was blocked off from getting the shot away from a promising position and Gnabry fired over as the move continued.
At the dawn of the second half, Scamacca’s glancing header whistled just wide, then the Sassuolo striker threaded through for Sandro Tonali, who was denied by Neuer diving onto the ball in the six-yard box.
Scamacca’s acrobatic over-head kick was blocked by Neuer on the line and Matteo Politano’s curler was deflected inches wide of the far top corner of the net.
Politano went off injured, giving 18-year-old Willy Gnonto his senior Italy debut, who made an immediate impact by whipping a low ball in from the right for Pellegrini to tap in at the back post just five minutes later.
The lead did not last long, as it hit Timo Werner, the ball fell to Joshua Kimmich to fire in the rebound from 10 yards. Although it struck Werner’s arm, it was on a ricochet from point-blank range and his arm was in a natural position.
Ilkay Gundogan tested Donnarumma with a snapshot, then the goalkeeper made a double save to fingertip a cross off the head of Gnabry and parry the Kimmich follow-up.
Matteo Cancellieri and Samuele Ricci were also given debuts, but Donnarumma needed a late save on a counter-attack in stoppages and fingertipped a corner off Antonio Rudiger’s head. The goalkeeper hurt his wrist during that move and was in agony receiving treatment after the final whistle.
Italy 1-1 Germany
Pellegrini 70 (I), Kimmich 73 (G)
Italy: Donnarumma; Florenzi, Acerbi, Bastoni, Biraghi (Dimarco 80); Frattesi (Ricci 85), Cristante, Tonali (Pobega 80); Politano (Gnonto 65), Scamacca (Cancellieri 85), Pellegrini
Germany: Neuer; Kehrer, Sule, Rudiger, Henrichs (Hofmann 59); Kimmich, Goretzka (Gundogan 69); Gnabry (Raum 80), Muller (Havertz 70), Sane (Musiala 59); Werner
Ref: Jovanovic (SRB)