That concludes our commentary of the Nations League group A3 match between Italy and Germany! We hope you’ve enjoyed it!
Italy are in action again on June 11, when they travel to play England in the Nations League. Germany play again on Tuesday against Hungary.
90 minutes of football is not enough to separate these two old European rivals as Italy and Germany share the spoils for the 13th time in their history. A first half with relatively little in the way of goal-mouth action was met with a frenetic second half, with Italy taking the lead after 71 minute, thanks to a close-range finish at the far post from Pellegrini after Gnonto’s assist. The lead would hold for just 180 seconds though, as the Mannschaft came powering back with a Kimmich goal from 10 yards out. The final 15 minutes produced chances for both sides but both Neuer and Donnarumma held strong to prevent a late defeat. The tie means that Italy and Germany are level in the group - behind Hungary.
90' + 5' FULL-TIME: ITALY 1-1 GERMANY.
M. Cancellieri
Yellow Card
90' + 4' A sliding tackle from Cancellieri on Rudiger to try and prevent a counter-attack ends with the Italy substitute earning a yellow card.
90' + 3' Dimarco takes a late Italy corner looking to steal the match at the death but the Inter defender puts his delivery high above all his team-mates and out for a Germany throw on the other side.
90' + 1' The fourth official indicates four minutes will be added to the end of the 90 for stoppages.
T. Werner
Yellow Card
89' Bastoni looks to put a sliding challenge in on Werner, who steps on the foot of the Italy centre-back. The referee brings play to a halt and opts to award the Germany striker a yellow card.
88' Italy have only lost one of their last five Nations League matches; a 2-1 defeat to Spain in October 2021. Germany have a similar record in their last five games - also beaten by La Roja. (6-0 in November 2020).
S. Ricci
D. Frattesi
86' Empoli's Ricci is also given a debut - coming on for Frattesi with four minutes left.
M. Cancellieri
G. Scamacca
85' Cancellieri comes on for his Italy debut - replacing Scamacca.
K. Havertz
Yellow Card
83' Havertz's clumsy tackle on Pellegrini earns the Chelsea forward a yellow card.
A. Bastoni
Yellow Card
80' The referee has apparently heard a little bit too much from Bastoni, who is shown a yellow card for his insistence.
D. Raum
S. Gnabry
80' Flick makes a switch on the wing with Raum replacing Gnabry.
F. Dimarco
C. Biraghi
80' A change at left-back for Italy sees Inter's Dimarco in for Biraghi.
T. Pobega
S. Tonali
80' One Milan midfielder comes on for another as Pobega replaces Tonali.
79' Germany have not been held scoreless in 10 matches - since their 2-0 loss to England in the round of 16 in Euro 2021.
77' The match has exploded into life with 20 minutes remaining as both sides have finally found openings in the opposition's defence. Instead of stifling the match and preventing the flow of play, the substitutions have really opened up the game and provided spaces with which to attack fruitfully.
75' The referee blows his whistle and points to the touchline as the two sides are given a cooling break with a quarter-hour remaining in the match in Bologna.
J. Kimmich
Goal
73' KIMMICH RESTORES PARITY! 1-1! It’s been a wild five minutes as Germany come forward right after the kick-off, committing numbers forward to overturn the deficit. An interchange between Havertz and Werner allows Hofmann to earn a a bit of room on the right-hand side of the penalty area - using it to deliver a cross. Werner is unable to turn the ball past Donnarumma but Kimmich continues his run and buries the chance!
W. Gnonto
Assist
70' Gnonto picks up an assist five minutes into his first appearance for Italy!
L. Pellegrini
Goal
70' ITALY TAKE THE LEAD! 1-0! The ball is sprayed out to the right from midfield for Gnonto, who drives towards Kehrer before winning an inch ahead of his opponent and firing a cross across the face of goal. Neuer is unable to deal with the delivery, allowing Pellegrini to pop up at the back post to turn it home!
K. Havertz
T. Müller
70' Muller makes way for Havertz as Flick changes the man behind Werner.
İ. Gündoğan
L. Goretzka
69' Gundogan is sent on for Goretzka with just over 20 minutes left.
68' Musiala looks to hit a first-time curling effort towards goal after Goretzka’s leading pass across the 18-yard box invites the substitute for a strike but the Bayern Munich midfielder fails to connect with the ball - sending a rolling shot harmlessly to the foot of Donnarumma.
S. Tonali
Yellow Card
66' Tonali cynically prevents a counter-attack by dragging Gnabry down to the turf by his shirt - earning the Milan midfielder a yellow card.
W. Gnonto
M. Politano
65' FC Zurich’s Gnonto is sent on for his first appearance with the senior international side after scoring five goals in 10 matches for the Italy Under-21 team. He comes on for the injured Politano.
64' Politano has gone down off the ball and it appears as though he’ll be unable to continue following the clash with Kehrer.
A. Florenzi
Yellow Card
62' Florenzi receives a yellow card for getting into a bit of a fracas with Kimmich following the Kehrer and Politano collision.
T. Kehrer
Yellow Card
62' Kehrer is also shown a yellow card for leaving a bit on Politano in the aftermath of the sliding challenge.
61' Politano is on the ground in some pain after coming off worse for wear following a sliding challenge the Italy international put on Kehrer.
J. Hofmann
B. Henrichs
59' Hofmann replaces Henrichs as Germany make a change at full-back.
J. Musiala
L. Sané
59' Musiala is sent on for Sane with just over 30 minutes remaining in the match.
57' With the hour mark approaching it appears as though Flick is preparing a couple of substitutions. With Italy in the ascendancy in the last 10 minutes it appears as though the Germany coach will look to bring new life into his front line with Musiala.
55' Politano drives to the byline and puts a low cross into the penalty area after Italy take a corner-kick short but Bastoni is unable to connect with his volley - allowing the ball to exit the penalty area on the other side much to Germany’s relief.
53' Scamacca looks to take advantage of Florenzi’s rushed throw-in but the striker is unable to hit the target from 25 yards - sending his shot wayward.
L. Pellegrini
Yellow Card
51' Pellegrini's rash and wild sliding challenge on Muller earns the Roma midfielder a yellow card.
50' Out of ideas on the right wing, Gnabry opts to hook a cross to the far post but Donnarumma instructs Florenzi to leave it as the ball rolls harmlessly behind for a goal-kick.
49' Pellegrini takes Italy’s first corner of the match but Kimmich rises highest at the near post to beat away the delivery.
48' CHANCE! Florenzi gets the better of Kehrer and chips a cross into the penalty area with his weaker right foot but Scamacca is unable to turn his point-blank header towards goal - missing the target disappointingly!
46' Germany get the match restarted from the kick-off!
1' With five minutes remaining it will take something special to break the deadlock now. There has been little to separate the two teams as we approach the closing stages - with full concentration necessary to see out the remainder.
Italy’s young bench still has quite a few names capable of turning a match on its head. With Euro Cup winner Barella able to slot into the midfield and Scamacca’s Sassuolo team-mate Raspadori ready to enter the match, Mancini is not without options. Flick instruct his side to continue asserting their dominance in the middle of the park while a change in the front line is likely, with Musiala, Brandt and Havertz all capable of changing the angle of attack.
A scoreless but nevertheless enthralling first half at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara comes to a close with Italy and Germany level at 0-0. The visitors certainly started the match the better of the two sides, using their pace and power to slice through the Azzurri midfield - only to be stifled by a compact and well-organised defence. The hosts grew into the match and registered the best opportunity of the opening period - with Neuer’s fingertips enough to divert a low Scamacca strike off the base of the post and out.
45' HALF-TIME: ITALY 0-0 GERMANY.
44' It doesnt appear as though the fourth official will add any time to the end of the first half - with little in the way of stoppages coming in the first 45.
42' Italy and Germany have met 35 times in their history, with Italy winning on 15 occasions to Germany’s eight. Italy have outscored their opponents in that time 50-41.
40' With five minutes to go in the first half, Germany have certainly not made the most of their time on the ball and territorial domination. They’ve allowed their opponents back into the game somewhat - opening up more and more in-behind to counter-attacks.
38' With an inch of room on the right corner of the penalty area, Frattesi picks his head up and gets a clean strike on the ball but can only send his effort high of Neuer’s crossbar.
36' OFF THE POST! After a quick free-kick, a lovely Pellegrini backheel puts it in the path of Scamacca. The striker’s first touch leaves Rudiger scrambling as the striker wires a low effort that forces a diving Neuer to palm the ball off the post and out!
34' Rudiger gives away an interesting foul, essentially picking up and lifting Scamacca from behind during a duel for a Donnarumma goal-kick. The referee’s whistle draws a laugh out of the former Chelsea centre-back but the Sassuolo striker is certainly not impressed as Italy are awared a free-kick.
32' Frattesi finds Politano on the right and the Napoli winger looks to return the favour, slipping a pass back into the penalty area for his team-mate, only for Rudiger to come across and force a rushed, wayward effort.
30' Acerbi is called for a foul in Germany’s half with the Lazio centre-back using too much force on his opponent - including two hands on his back. Italy have attempted to turn the game into a physical battle, pressing and harrying the man on the ball at every opportunity.
28' Frattesi’s run into the penalty area is rebuffed, forcing the midfielder to play it back out wide for Florenzi. The Milan right-back hooks a cross into the six-yard box looking to catch Neuer off-guard but the goalkeeper does well to pluck the ball out of the air.
26' Werner pulls a pass back to the edge of the 18-yard box for Muller, who has time and space to measure his shot before sending an effort to the far post which is blocked heroically by Florenzi.
24' Pellegrini puts the ball between the legs of two Germany players in quick succession before slipping a clever pass through the lines for Scamacca but Henrichs and Rudiger to well do close down the space and prevent a potential shot.
22' Florenzi takes a quick throw-in deep in Germany’s half looking to free Frattesi but Rudiger is wise to the threat and takes up a good position to allow Neuer to claim the ball.
20' Cristante plays a lovely pass into the penalty area for Florenzi, who latches onto the ball and immediately delivers a low cross to the near post, which is batted away by a lunging Rudiger.
18' Germany turn the ball over in midfield after a sloppy pass from Sane to Gnabry allows Bastoni to intercept. The centre-back drives forward and looks to play Pellegrini into the penalty area but the linesman’s flag goes up immediately for offside - ending the move.
16' Frattesi picks up possession of the ball 25 yards from goal and has a speculative shot, sending his effort wide of Neuer’s right post.
14' Goretzka looks to hook an incisive first-time pass into the penalty area for Werner after receiving the ball from Kimmich but a leaping Bastoni does just enough to prevent the ball from reaching its target.
12' It’s been attack against defence in the opening phase, with the visitors dominating time on the ball. Italy will have to be clinical if they are to get something from the match as it appears their opportunities will be few and far between.
10' Werner drives to the byline on a counter-attack after a failed Italy foray forward and beats Acerbi but his centred pass is put behind Sane - allowing Bastoni to clear the danger frantically.
8' Henrichs puts a cross to the edge of the penalty area but an interchange between Muller and Werner fails to break down the Italy defence before Acerbi wins a free-kick for his side.
6' Sane takes Germany’s corner from the right but he fails to beat the first man as Florenzi is able to block the cross from his position on the 18-yard box.
4' Sane puts the ball through the legs of Frattesi before chipping a pass forward for Werner, which rolls out for a throw-in before the striker could reach the delivery.
3' Germany are looking comfortable in possession in the early stages, finding it easy to cut through the Italy midfield before the compact 18-yard box forces the visitors back.
1' Italy get the match underway from the kick-off!
Germany make five changes from their last international match - a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands at the end of March. Sule and Henrichs are in for Schlotterbeck and Raum, while an overhaul in midfield sees Goretzka and Kimmich start ahead of Gundogan and Musiala. The only other alteration is on the right wing - where Havertz is dropped for Gnabry.
Only Donnarumma keeps his place in the XI as Italy make 10 changes from their 3-0 loss to Argentina on Wednesday. A back four of Biraghi, Bastoni, Acerbi and Florenzi replace Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Leonardo Bonucci, the recently retired Giorgio Chiellini and Emerson respectively. A midfield trio of Tonali, Cristante and Frattesi are in for Matteo Pessino, Jorginho and Barella while Federico Bernardeschi, Raspadori and Andrea Belotti make way for Pellegrini, Scamacca and Politano.
GERMANY SUBS: Nico Schlotterbeck, Jonas Hofmann, Jonathan Tah, Oliver Baumann, Lukas Nmecha, Lukas Klostermann, Kevin Trapp, David Raum, Ilkay Gundogan, Julian Brandt, Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala.
GERMANY XI (4-2-3-1): Manuel Neuer; Thilo Kehrer, Antonio Rudiger, Niklas Sule, Benjamin Henrichs; Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka; Serge Gnabry, Thomas Muller, Leroy Sane; Timo Werner.
ITALY XI (4-3-3): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Cristiano Biraghi, Alessandro Bastoni, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Florenzi; Sandro Tonali, Bryan Cristante, Davide Frattesi; Lorenzo Pellegrini, Gianluca Scamacca, Matteo Politano.
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, lets's take a look at how the two sides are lining up - starting with our hosts!
Germany’s four World Cup triumphs are equal to that of their opponents, but recent results point to only one team in the ascendancy. After going six matches without a win over their rivals, the Mannschaft have failed to lose to Italy in their last four meetings since a 2-1 loss in the 2012 Euros; winning twice.
One of Europe’s most illustrious and hotly contested rivalries is once again renewed as Italy welcome Germany to the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara in Bologna - looking to get their Nations League campaign off on the right foot. Having failed to qualify for the tournament in Qatar, the four-time world champions will have to put their best foot forward today if they wish to respond after their 3-0 defeat to Argentina in the Finalissima.
Hello and welcome to our live commentary of the Nations League group A3 fixture between Italy and Germany!
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