Germany beat Italy 2-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarterfinal at the San Siro Stadium in Milan.
Sandro Tonali gave the Italians the lead, but Germany scored a couple of goals through Tim Kleindienst and Leon Goretzka to earn a valuable win.
The two teams will meet once again in the second leg on Sunday. Germany will be playing at home in the second leg and the advantage they earned in the first leg should help them a great deal in winning the tie.
Germany Were Strong in the Air Overall
The Germans scored both their goals through headers and had the upper hand over the Italians in the air in general.
After Tonali had scored with a shot from outside the penalty box, it was an even match overall. However, the Germans scored two key goals to gain ascendancy in the match.
For Germany, Leroy Sane was quite lively on the flanks and played a few crosses into the box. Nadiem Amiri played in the match for Germany on the right flank and had a reasonably good match, too.
Oliver Baumann also came up with a few good saves to keep Germany in the game after the opening goal was scored.
But, for Julian Nagelsmann’s men, the difference was probably made by right-back Joshua Kimmich, who managed to register two assists, showing yet again that he is one of the best crossers of the ball in world football.
Italy started the match with a 3-5-1-1 formation, with Giacomo Raspadori playing behind Moise Kean, who started as the No. 9.
Matteo Politano and Destiny Udogie started as the two wing-backs in the absence of Federico Dimarco.
However, Kimmich and David Raum did a reasonable job for Germany to contain the two Italian wing-backs.
Germany started with a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Pascal Gross and Goretzka playing in the double-pivot. They did a decent job in containing the midfield triumvirate of Italy – Nicolo Barella, Nicolo Rovella and Tonali.
As a result, the visitors managed to take the attack to the Italians and generally dominated the proceedings in the final third.
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Germany Will Be the Favourites to Go Through
Die Mannschaft will take on the Azzurri in the second leg in Dortmund in a couple of days’ time.
Germany have not tasted success in any international tournament since the World Cup in 2014.
The four-time world champions have been probably the most consistent team in world football until the recent past when they bowed out of two successive World Cups in the first round itself.
Germany failed to win the European Championships at home last year as well, as they lost narrowly to Spain in the quarterfinals in what was probably the best match of the tournament.
37-year-old Nagelsmann has managed to make Germany play an attractive brand of football.
However, his effect on the team will only be proved beyond doubt if the Germans can win a tournament like the Nations League. It remains to be seen whether they can do that.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / ABACAPRESS
Recording Date: 20.03.2025