Italy vs Germany UEFA Nations League LIVE Football Score 14 Jun 2022
Trailing their old rivals by two points in the UEFA Nations League standings, Germany welcome Italy to Monchengladbach on Tuesday, as two European heavyweights convene. Following draws for both side at the weekend, they wrap up a frantic spell at the start of their respective League A Group 3 campaigns by meeting for the second time in less than a fortnight. Having posted four successive 1-1 draws – the last three coming in the Nations League – Germany are still seeking a first win in Group 3, and hopes of reaching the competition’s finals as group winners rest on an upturn in fortunes over the next three matchdays.
Yet to make their first appearance in the Nations League finals, Die Mannschaft have some catching up to do after being held by a transitional Italy outfit in Bologna on the opening night and then conceding a late equalising goal at home to England.
On that occasion, versatile wing-back Jonas Hofmann deservedly put Hansi Flick’s side ahead in the second half, before Harry Kane sent Manuel Neuer the wrong way from the penalty spot in the 88th minute.
Conversely, Germany needed to come back from a goal down to draw Saturday’s contest with Euro 2020 opponents Hungary, and another Hofmann strike helped the side who sauntered through World Cup qualifying preserve an unbeaten record now dating back some 12 games.
With Chelsea duo Kai Havertz and Timo Werner again struggling to produce in the final third, despite dominating possession at the Puskas Arena, it was another disappointing result for Flick to absorb: stretching across both his reign and that of predecessor Joachim Low, the Germans have posted just one win from seven away fixtures since the Nations League began in 2018.
This edition’s group stage will conclude in September, when they host Hungary in Leipzig and then tackle England at Wembley, but first Germany could do with taking maximum points against an Italy squad undergoing a sizeable rebuild – and they have gone unbeaten in their last five games against the Italians in all competitions.
In the aftermath of their calamitous attempts at qualifying for Qatar 2022, European champions Italy have shed several of their old guard, to whom coach Roberto Mancini had stayed fiercely loyal despite declining form, and a considerably younger lineup have crept to the top of their Nations League group at the halfway stage.
The Azzurri ground out a goalless draw at Molineux on Saturday evening, in the third game of their packed summer schedule – which kicked off with a humbling defeat to South American counterparts Argentina in the ‘Finalissima’ – and are a point clear of supposed surprise package Hungary in the standings.
Taking a point against England – in a game played before just a few hundred young spectators, due to the chaotic scenes preceding last year’s Euro 2020 final between the two nations – followed a merited draw against Germany at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara and victory over the Hungarians in Cesena.
Mancini’s men remain unbeaten, then, as they head to North Rhine-Westphalia, and some early green shoots can be seen in the former Manchester City manager’s development for the future.
Indeed, only two players who started the final at Wembley last summer featured in the first XI at the weekend, as talented prospects such as Sassuolo pair Davide Frattesi and Gianluca Scamacca start to establish themselves as regulars in the side.
Italy now round off a relatively positive camp by facing Germany for the second time in 10 days, and this time away at Monchengladbach’s Borussia-Park, after the first meeting between the teams earlier this month resulted in the spoils being shared.
Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini opened the scoring for La Nazionale in the 70th minute, but their lead was soon wiped out by Joshua Kimmich, who equalised just three minutes later – this time, though, Mancini will be hoping to spring a surprise and go one better.
Germany are hosting Italy in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday at the Borussia-Park in Monchengladbach. The two teams faced each other 10 days ago, when they drew 1-1 on Italian soil and now they meet again.
Lorenzo Pellegrini opened the scoring for Roberto Mancini’s side in the 70th minute of that first game, but Joshua Kimmich equalised three minutes later.
This will be the last of the four duels each side will have disputed before the summer break. Germany drew all their three games 1-1 so far and they are sitting third in League A’s Group C.
Serge Gnabry is doubtful due to a calf issue, while Marco Reus is unlikely to feature after picking up a muscular injury.
As for Italy, Roberto Mancini has delivered on his promise before the game against Argentina to give opportunities to young players in the Nations League matches.
“[The game with Argentina] will be the match that will end a cycle,” he said.
“It does not mean that 15 to 20 players will leave, but from Wednesday we will include young players to understand how much they are worth and if we can count on them for the future.
“We will not change the whole team, but in the four games one, two, three or four young people will play.”