Germany humiliates Italy with a historic little hand

Germany, Spain’s rival in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, had not yet won in the current edition of the Nations League but today it debuted by endorsing a humiliating 5-2 against Italy at the Borussia-Park in Mönchengladbach. It is the biggest win for the ‘Mannschaft’ against the ‘azzurra’ in the 37 clashes between these two European football powers and equals another 5-2 in 1939.

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After missing out on the second successive World Cup, Italy’s ordeal seems to have no end and, just 11 months after winning the European Championship, they conceded five goals in a game for the first time since a 6-1 loss to the former Yugoslavia in 1957.

An unmitigated defeat that cost him the loss of the leadership of group 3 of League A of the Nations League for the benefit of Hungary, which gave England another historic beating (0-4). Germany remains undefeated (13 games) since the arrival of Hansi Flick and moves from third to second place one point behind the Magyars, while Italy remains two points behind the leaders.

First big win

Germany, who had tied at one goal against Italy, England and Hungary, dominated this great European classic from start to finish and did not take long to open the scoring just a few seconds after Manuel Neuer avoided the 0-1 by deflecting with a save a volley from Giacomo Raspadori.

Italy had there the option to change the script of the game, but Germany did not grant it any more since in the 10th minute they took advantage of a defensive mistake to score 1-0. The play was born from a long ball to Timo Werner, who opened to the left for David Raum to cross into the heart of the area. Joshua Kimmich, coming from behind, received completely unmarked and, despite not shooting in place, his shot went between the legs of Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Germany, absolute dominator

With the score in their favour, Germany controlled the game at will, alternating long short possessions with quick long runs that allowed them to combine with speed.

Donarrumma avoided the 2-0 draw by repelling a cross shot by Jonas Hofmann (34′), another cross by Leroy Sané (40′) and a third by Weerner (41′), but in the first-half injury time Alessandro Bastoni he took an unnecessary penalty by pushing Hofmann and Ilkay Gündogan converted it down the middle (45+4′).

Müller and a double from Werner

The revamped Italy seemed determined to change their image after the break. Roberto Mancini brought in Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Caprari instead of Raspadori and Matteo Politano. It was Bryan Cristante who made it 2-1 when a ball fell to him but his shot went a bit wide (46′).

It was a mirage as it soon became 3-0 in a defensive rebound that Thomas Müller took advantage of. His shot was centered but he caught Donnarumma off foot and reached the net (51′).

The game was doomed but the entrance of Serge Gnabry at the hour of play gave Germany more fuel.

In the 68th minute, Thomas Müller put in a great bounce pass to Gnabry himself, who played first from the right of the area so that Werner only had to push the ball (68′).

The following minute Donnarumma was arrogant and, under pressure from Werner, mishandled the ball and Gnabry took advantage of the gift to assist, leaving only Werne himself, who beat the PSG goalkeeper low.

Gnonto, Italy’s youngest goalscorer

Italy saved the honor with two goals in the last minutes. First of all, the very young Wilfried Gnonto made his debut as a scorer when he shot at an empty goal after Neuer saved a short diagonal shot from Federico Dimarco (79′).

Gnonto thus became, at 18 years and 222 days, the youngest player to score a goal for the Italian national team, surpassing Bruno Nicolè, who held the record since 1958 at 18 years and 259 days.

Already in stoppage time, Bastoni made it 5-2 by heading in a corner kick taken by Dimarco.