Italy saw the splendid Sandro Tonali opener overturned by Tim Kleindienst and Leon Goretzka headers, as Germany win the first leg of the Nations League quarter-final.
The decider will be in Dortmund on Sunday for a place in the Final Four. The Azzurri missed Mateo Retegui, Federico Dimarco, Andrea Cambiaso and Gianluca Scamacca, with Mattia Zaccagni barely fit for the bench, but Nicolò Rovella got the nod in midfield. Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Kai Havertz, Niclas Füllkrug and suspended Florian Wirtz were out of action.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
While the visitors dominated the early possession, Italy opened the scoring with a well-worked team move. Alessandro Bastoni’s cross-field pass found Nicolò Barella down the right, he sent Matteo Politano down that flank and the pull-back was deflected off Jonathan Tah into the path of Tonali to sweep home from nine yards.
Leon Goretzka’s header landed on the roof of the net, then his volley was straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma, but Baumann had more difficulty with his gloves stung by a long-range Tonali strike.
Moise Kean had a huge opportunity moments later, springing the offside trap on an inspired first-time Politano ball over the top to force a desperate save at the near top corner.
Nadiem Amiri’s pull-back from the by-line caused some panic, but Germany equalised straight after the restart with substitute Tim Kleindienst, who was ready to nod in the Joshua Kimmich cross from the right.
Donnarumma had to rush off his line to smother at the feet of Kimmich, while Destiny Udogie’s header was charged down by Kimmich at the back post.
There were two massive Italy opportunities in the space of two minutes. First Tonali’s aerial back-heel flick set up Kean to volley just over from a tricky angle, then the Newcastle United midfielder set up Giacomo Raspadori for an angled drive, parried by Baumann’s outstretched boot.
Goretzka’s glancing header turned another Kimmich cross wide and Germany turned the game around when Raoul Bellanova gave the ball away cheaply twice. On the resulting corner, Goretzka got in front of Bastoni for the glancing header to beat Donnarumma.
Baumann needed a great reaction save on the deflected Bastoni header from a corner, then had his gloves stung by the sudden Daniel Maldini scorcher.
Italy 1-2 Germany
Tonali 9 (I), Kleindienst 49 (G), Goretzka 76 (G)
Player statistic
| Sandro Tonali |  |
9' |
| 49' | |
Tim Kleindienst (Assist: Joshua Kimmich) | ||
| Nicolò Rovella |  |
52' | ||
| 55' | |
Nadiem Amiri | ||
| Daniel Maldini | |
74' | ||
| 76' | |
Leon Goretzka (Assist: Joshua Kimmich) |
Match statistic
Modern Italy is defined by defensive ineptitude. We concede unforgivable goals. They literally had nothing bar two crosses and yet we were near neither. 3 centre backs to mark one forward, and none of them were near him for the first. No idea what Donnarumma is doing for the 2nd. Another game thrown away because of horrific defending.
italy are lacking some talent .I feel their are too many forigners in the serie a now. when the Germans pressed they found it difficult to play
a Germany of burkhart something, leindkstin, Raum, emiri, Baumann? or whatever 😂 And they still somehow won comfortably. Probably the weakest German lineup ever vs italy.
Difference is Italy always seem panicky in play whereas Germany always seem composed. Some Italy players have what some England players used to have that is they don’t play as well for their country as they do for their clubs. The poor state of the National side continues.
like I always said, Italy is going to concede 2 goals, every time Di Lorenzo (suck at defending)and Bastoni(always struggle without Acerbi) start as center backs.
Italy was effective on the counterattack to Germany’s high pressing game. This isn’t new and been the case for as long as I can remember. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. But they should have done better with those two goals and Germany knew this would break down their defence. Kimmich is such an important player for this team. He definitely deserves the captains armband.
Italy finds themselves battling in the midst of a LOST GENERATION. We lack the talent, the creativity and the skill to win a big match……
You never saw this with, by example, a 1994 squad that took the squad all the way to the Final in the World Cup @ Rose Bowl.
This Coach (Spalletti) has no idea how to work with the players or set the proper formation.
Buffon may as well be the Head Coach.
Italy is in a 20-25 year lost generation ………
Very disappointing and out of character ‼️