MADRID, 26 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Italian national team, current European champion, became the third participant in the ‘Final Four’ of the 2022-2023 League of Nations, after beating Hungary 0-2 on Monday with solvency, which woke up from its dream of being in the final stretch for the title.
The ‘Azzurra’ joined Croatia and the Netherlands and, like the Dutch team, will play the final phase of the competition for the second time, a small consolation to continue digesting the enormous disappointment of having been left out of the World Cup in Qatar.
Roberto Mancini’s team needed to win at the Puskas Arena against a Hungary that they had already beaten at home, but that arrived with sky-high morale after beating Germany in Leipzig, but perhaps the pressure from the moment against an opponent who managed the game better, especially after Raspadori’s goal.
The Napoli striker did not waste an error by the Hungarian team when the ball came out to put the four-time world champion ahead before half an hour of play and reward their best game. Marco Rose’s men were unable to recover from the blow and hardly worried in search of a draw, while Di Lorenzo forgave the 0-2.
After the break, Hungary had a double chance to equalize, but Donnarumma prevented it and then Italy practically sentenced in a good collective play that Dimarco finished and that gave a good advantage to the ‘Azzurra’, that his goalkeeper took care of not being be cropped to avoid final burdens.
On the other hand, in the other match of Group 3, in which there was nothing at stake, but attractive for facing England at Wembley, already relegated, and Germany, Spain’s rival in the World Cup in Qatar, there were many goals and a draw final to three, with all the goals in the second half.
The German team avoided conceding their second consecutive loss, also the second since Hansi Flick took over, after failing to take advantage of the fact that they had apparently controlled the clash after goals from Ilkay Gündogan, from a penalty in the 52nd minute, and from Kai Havertz, in the 67.
However, Gareth Southgate’s men had character to react with three goals between the 72nd and 83rd minute, the work of Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Harry Kane, from a penalty. When the ‘pross’ hoped to add an emotional victory, a mistake by goalkeeper Nick Pope allowed Havertz to act as the visitor’s savior and extend his rival’s winless streak to six games, who collided for the last time in his attempt to win with a great hand of Marc-André ter Stegen.