Italy’s Late Push Falls Short Against Germany
It was an exciting game in Dortmund as Germany took on Italy in the second leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final. Italy made a strong late push, but Italy’s Late Rally Not Enough to Stop Germany, as they fell short against Julian Nagelsmann’s team, who won 5-4 on aggregate to move on to the semi-finals. Italy’s Late Rally Not Enough to Stop Germany.
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Joshua Kimmich was key in Germany’s strong first half, but they had to fight off a spirited comeback from Italy towards the end. Germany’s slim lead from the first leg proved crucial, allowing them to celebrate a win at Signal Iduna Park.
Germany Controls the First Half
Starting with a 2-1 advantage from the first match, Germany wasted no time getting into gear. They scored three times in the first half, putting them in a great position for the semi-finals.
The first goal came in the 30th minute when Kimmich scored a penalty after Tim Kleindienst was fouled in the box. Just six minutes later, things got worse for Italy when goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a great save, but as Italy scrambled to regroup, Kimmich quickly took a short corner. His pass found Jamal Musiala, who easily scored to make it 2-0.
Germany kept their momentum going, and Kimmich assisted once again, providing a perfect cross for Kleindienst to head in just before halftime. With a 3-0 lead, it looked like Germany was set to go through. Italy’s Late Rally Not Enough to Stop Germany.
Italy’s Remarkable Comeback
Italy’s manager, Luciano Spalletti, made two changes at halftime to shake things up, and it worked almost immediately. A misplaced pass from Leroy Sané put pressure on Kimmich, allowing Moise Kean to score in the 49th minute.
Feeling the pressure, Nagelsmann made some substitutions, including taking off Sané, but Italy didn’t let up. In the 69th minute, substitute Giacomo Raspadori set up Kean with a clever pass. Kean controlled it perfectly, cut inside, and shot into the bottom corner, bringing the score to 3-2.
Just three minutes later, Italy looked likely to level the score when Giovanni Di Lorenzo was fouled in the box. The referee initially gave a penalty, but after a review, it was overturned, deciding that Nico Schlotterbeck had made contact with the ball first. Italy’s Late Rally Not Enough to Stop Germany.
A Nail-Biting Finish in Dortmund
The excitement didn’t end there. Deep into stoppage time, Italy got another opportunity when Maximilian Mittelstädt was called for a handball. Raspadori stepped up to take the penalty and scored, bringing it to 3-3 for the night.
Even with the late drama, Germany’s aggregate lead was enough to see them through to the semi-finals, wrapping up an unforgettable night in Dortmund.
A Special Night for German Football
This match was particularly memorable as it celebrated the 125th anniversary of the German Football Association (DFB). Fans displayed a tifo before kickoff, and Germany almost scored early on, with both Maximilian Mittelstädt and Leon Goretzka coming close in the first minutes.
While Italy’s late efforts made for a tense finish, Germany stayed composed enough to secure their spot in the next round. Their solid performance in the first half was crucial, although they’ll need to fix their second-half issues as they head into the next stage of the tournament.
