Italy are through to the UEFA Nations League knockout stages for the third tournament in a row after maintaining their unbeaten record in the competition with a 1-0 win over Belgium.
The visitors were dominant from the first whistle, and it was no surprise when they took the lead 11 minutes in as Sandro Tonali tapped home his first international goal.
It was not until after half-time that The Red Devils started to find their feet from an attacking sense, as Arne Engels, Zeno Debast and Leandro Trossard all tried their luck from outside the area.
Mateo Retegui was then denied at the other end by a brilliant save, before Trossard saw a hooked volley from the edge of the box tipped around the post.
The closing stages were just as hectic, with Belgium creating a string of openings, only for Romelu Lukaku to head wide and see another shot blocked, before Wout Faes hit the post as Italy clung on for a big victory.
TALKING POINT – Spalletti revolution in full force
Italy have felt like an all-or-nothing nation of late. They won Euro 2020, but only made the last-16 this summer and have missed successive World Cups.
With Luciano Spalletti at the helm, it does feel like something is building as his young side breezed through to the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals.
Belgium are not an easy team to play, let alone beat, but Gli Azzurri did so impressively, controlling the game in midfield and defending stoutly.
That is now nine wins from their last 15 internationals, losing just twice.
Player of the Match – Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)
The goalkeeper had nothing to do in the first half, but he came into his own after the break.
Belgium were banging on the door at the start and end of the period, but found the Paris Saint-Germain man consistently in their way.
He made a string of fine saves, but also claimed some tricky crosses, en route to keeping an invaluable clean sheet.
PLAYER RATINGS
BELGIUM: Casteels 7; Castagne 7, Debast 6, Faes 7, Theate 6; Trossard 7, Engels 7, Onana 6, De Cuyper 7; Openda 5, Lukaku 6. Subs: Al Dakhil 6, Vermeeren 6, Lukebakio n/a, Bakayoko n/a
ITALY: Donnarumma 8; Di Lorenzo 7, Buongiorno 7, Bastoni 7; Cambiaso 6, Frattesi 7, Rovella 6, Tonali 7, Dimarco 7; Barella 7, Retegui 7. Subs: Udogie 6, Kean 6, Raspadori n/a, Locatelli n/a
KEY MOMENTS
11’ GOAL! BELGIUM 0-1 ITALY (Sandro Tonali). It has been coming! A beautifully constructed Italy attack, that sees them work the ball out to the right wing. Gioavanni Di Lorenzo is on the end of a one-two, continuing his run into the box, and he slides an inviting low cross to Sandro Tonali, who just has to poke into an empty net. As simple as that.
51’ DEBAST DENIED. This is more like it from Belgium. Zeno Debast forces Donnarumma into his first save of the night with a fierce 25-yard drive that is well caught by the goalkeeper
55’ CASTEELS KEEPS IT AT 1-0! Wow! Out of nowhere, a rapid Italy attack at Retegui gets in behind, but Casteels stands tall and makes an excellent save with his outstretched left palm
83’ FAES HITS THE POST! Oh my! Belgium are banging on the door. From the resulting corner, Faes gets a flick on that cannons into the woodwork! Italy are hanging on!
KEY STATS
- This is the first time Belgium have failed to score in a home game in the UEFA Nations League
- Italy remain unbeaten in competitive matches against Belgium since 1972, winning five of the seven outings in the 52 years since that European Championship meeting
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