There is a small dent in Italy’s impressive record in the Nations League. The Squadra Azzurra played Belgium against the wall for almost half, then Pellegrini saw red – and Belgium came back. In the end, Italy stumbled to a 2-2 draw with time running out.
Maxim de Cuyper (#5) scored his first goal for the national team.
IMAGO/LaPresse
Italian coach Luciano Spalletti made a great start to the League of Nations with the Squadra Azzurra, winning, among others, over France (3:1) and recently over Israel (2:1).
San Olimpico at home in Rome, the 65-year-old had to do without the attacker Kean (lumbago), among others, and brought a total of five new players onto the pitch in Calafiori, Di Lorenzo , Cambiaso, Pellegrini and Retegui, compared to Israel’s success a month earlier.
The lines of concern of his colleague Domenico Tedesco were a little more. Not only did the Red Devils lose recently against France (0-2), the best stars De Bruyne (injured) and Lukaku (stayed in Napoli) were also missing, as was the former Hamburg player Onana sick.
Squadra Azzurra with a perfect start
UEFA Nations League, matchday 3 – Thursday
Accordingly, Italy went into the game as favorites – and did not even fulfill their role for 60 seconds. Dimarco went forward from the left and fed Cambiaso perfectly for his first international goal (1st).
Even after that, the Squadra Azzurra showed a lot of enthusiasm, pressed early and repeatedly prevented the Red Devils from taking their game. At times they seemed overwhelmed by the pace of the hosts. Another diagonal ball from Dimarco gave Cambiaso the next opportunity to finish, Casteels missed but Retegui converted the rebound to make it 2-0 (24th).
Pellegrini overhard – De Cuyper’s debut
The lead was well deserved against unimaginative Belgium, who suddenly had hope again after Pellegrini drove too hard from behind into the Frankfurter Theate parade and saw red before the break (40th). The Belgians came up with a strong variation on the ensuing free kick, and de Cuyper finished it to score his nation’s first goal (41′). Momentum suddenly swung in favor of the visitors, but Italy saved their slim lead going into the dressing room.
Both coaches fielded their teams again with the same personnel, but the game naturally focused on the Italian half, which focused on defense. This plan worked for a long time, but the hosts had problems, especially with set pieces. And this also resulted in the equalizer: Faes extended a corner into the five-yard box, Trossard kept out his foot and equalized (61′).
Italy defended bravely and finished with one point
Now that Belgium needed more, Italy couldn’t let go and lost any danger going forward. However, Calafiori and Co managed to keep the Red Devils away from the goal until the final stages and worked their way towards winning points minute by minute.
And this venture was ultimately successful, as Belgian standards fell too easily towards the end. As a result, Italy remain unbeaten with a 2-2 draw and top of Group 2 in Serie A, while Belgium now have four points.
Both nations don’t have much time to breathe, Belgium host France on Monday at 8:45 pm, while Italy have another home game and welcome Israel there at the same time.