England Suffer Surprise UNL Loss, Germany & Italy Drop Points
05 June, 2022
Italy 1-1 Germany
Italy and Germany could not be separated in their UEFA Nations League group opener after playing to a 1-1 draw on Saturday evening.
Italy were without virtually the whole line-up that lost the Finalissima against Argentina, as only goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was retained while Die Mannschaft had most of their regulars, with Leroy Sane, Thomas Muller and Serge Gnabry shadowing Timo Werner up top.
The visitors were on the front foot in the opening exchanges and although they pinned the Azzurri back in their own half for most periods, they could not translate their possession into chances.
Roberto Mancini's charges carved out the best chance ten minutes before the break from a quick free-kick after Gianluca Scamacca fired a low strike in the box that was parried onto the post by shot-stopper Manuel Neuer. Italy gained more confidence as they found openings on counter-attacks but they could not take their chances as the encounter remained on the balance at the break.
The Azzurri had a bright start in the second stanza as just three minutes in Scamacca was presented with a good chance after a delightful cross by Alessandro Florenzi but the Sassuolo striker guided his close-range header wide.
Germany remained under pressure and Hansi Flick made a double change on the hour-mark as Jamal Musiala replaced Sane in attack and Jonas Hofmann came on for Benjamin Henrichs.
Die Mannschaft started to regain lost ground after that but just after introducing Ilkay Gundogan and Thomas Muller with 20 minutes left, they went a goal down as Pellegrini fired home a cross by Degnand Gnonto who had just come on in his debut, at the back post.
However, Germany responded immediately from the restart as they sent numbers forward and Hoffmann delivered a cross towards the back post that was tucked into the back of the net by Joshua Kimmich.
Flick's men had the attacking momentum in the dying minutes but they could not get clear chances, as Italy defended with numbers and held on for the share of the spoils.
Hungary 1-0 England
England got their UEFA Nations League campaign off to a shaky start after suffering a 1-0 loss to Hungary on Saturday evening.
Gareth Southgate handed England debuts to Leicester City left wing-back James Justin and West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen, who started alongside Harry Kane and Mason Mount.
Hungary came the closest to going ahead in the 11th minute after RB Leipzig striker Dominik Szoboszlai latched onto a diagonal through ball by Loic Nego and guided a first-time shot past the on-rushing shot-stopper Jordan Pickford but Conor Coady cleared his effort off the line.
The Three Lions were nearly punished on 32 minutes after Adam Szalai spotted Pickford out of his area with an audacious long range chip that sailed not far wide of the gaping net.
As the first stanza drew to a close, Marco Rossi's charges had enough confidence and contained England's tame attacks and gave them something to think about at the half-time break.
However, Hungary settled the quickest from the break as within four minutes Zsolt Nagy came close to breaking the deadlock with a diagonal grass-cutter from the edge of the box that missed the bottom corner by a whisker after a knock-down by Adam Szalai.
Hungary remained a threat as the second half went on and were awarded a penalty moments later after Reeec James collided with Nagy in the box from a long ball over the defence, which allowed Szoboszlai to step up and fire into the bottom corner.
Hungary looked to exploit the space behind the England defence and Andras Schafer should have buried the game in the last nine minutes after Pickford parried Laszlo Kleinheisler's shot into his path, but he looped his strike over the crossbar.
Southgate's troops pressurised Hungary in the dying minutes but they lacked the spark in the last third and Rossi's men held on beat England for the first time in 60 years.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za