Comments and predictions for Italy vs Germany: Shoot down tanks
The match between Italy and Germany in the Nations League takes place at 1:45 a.m. on March 21. Nghe An Newspaper analyzes performance, makes football comments and predicts the score.
European giants Italy and Germany will face off at the San Siro on Thursday evening in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final, with the aim of qualifying for the semi-finals.
Germany entered the knockout stages unbeaten, topping Group A3, while Italy finished second in Group A2 behind France. This was also the first time the two teams had met since a dramatic seven-goal encounter in 2022.
Latest Italy vs Germany team information
Having switched to a back three to improve Italy’s play following a poor showing at Euro 2024, coach Luciano Spalletti has placed high hopes on his wingers, so the absence of Inter Milan’s Federico Dimarco through injury is a significant blow.
Andrea Cambiaso, who can play on either wing, is also struggling with fitness despite being called up, so two left-back specialists Destiny Udogie and Matteo Ruggeri will compete for a starting spot in place of Dimarco.
Alongside Ruggeri, Torino's Cesare Casadei could make his international debut after becoming a key figure in the Granata's midfield since leaving Chelsea, while Juventus' Manuel Locatelli was left out of the squad.
Spalletti may not start with two strikers against a strong opponent like Germany, but Matteo Retegui and Moise Kean are both having their best seasons in Serie A, while Giacomo Raspadori is also slowly regaining his place at Napoli.
Instead, Nicolo Barella or Davide Frattesi – both of whom play at home for the club – could take on the attacking midfielder role to support the forward line.
On the German side, Julian Nagelsmann has more injuries to contend with. Kai Havertz, Benjamin Henrichs, Felix Nmecha, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz are all unavailable.
As a result, Leon Goretzka has been recalled for the first time since November 2023, while Karim Adeyemi has been called up due to improved form. Mainz 05's Nadiem Amiri also marks his return to the squad after a four-year absence.
Inter Milan defender Yann Bisseck will get his chance to play at home at the San Siro after receiving his first call-up to the national team, while captain Joshua Kimmich could reach the milestone of 98 caps for Germany.
Bisseck is one of two players who have never played internationally, along with Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. He will compete with Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nubel for a starting spot.
Latest expected lineup for Italy vs Germany
Italy:
Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Bastoni; Cambiaso, Frattesi, Rovella, Tonali, Udogie; Barella; Retegui
Virtue:
Nubel; Kimmich, Rudiger, Schlotterbeck, Mittelstadt; Andrich, Gross; Sane, Musiala, Adeyemi; Kleindienst
Latest football commentary on Italy vs Germany
After failing to defend their Euro 2024 crown, a new-look Italy team started strongly in the Nations League group stage, before losing at home to France – a team they had beaten 3-1 in Paris.
The result left the Azzurri content with second place, but was still enough to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the latest European national team tournament.
With four wins from five games before losing to Les Bleus in Milan, Luciano Spalletti's side showed marked improvement thanks to a change in tactics and personnel selection, and their hopes of a maiden Nations League title remain intact.
After winning Euro 2020 but missing out on both of the last two World Cups, Italy’s top priority is still to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. However, they face a familiar challenge – a fateful opponent and a match with great significance.
Not only have they secured a place in the semi-finals after two matches, the winner will also have the honor of hosting the Nations League finals this summer. Therefore, Spalletti and his team will aim to reverse the result of the last confrontation between the two teams.
After a 1-1 draw at home in the 2021-22 Nations League, La Nazionale suffered a heavy 2-5 defeat in Germany just days later, a bitter memory that has lingered for nearly three years.
After closing the group stage with a crushing 7-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, the German team continued to earn a comfortable 1-1 draw against Hungary in the final match.
Unbeaten in six games since their defeat to Spain – who would go on to win Euro 2024 – Julian Nagelsmann helped his side finish the group stage with four wins and two draws, well ahead of second-placed Netherlands.
Averaging three goals per game in the Nations League this season, Nagelsmann goes into his 20th game in charge with a squad brimming with confidence.
Making their first knockout appearance after three failed attempts to reach the finals, Germany are aiming to claim the missing trophy before heading to next year's World Cup campaign.
After the first leg in Lombardy, the return leg will take place in Dortmund on Sunday evening, with the eventual winners set to face either Denmark or Portugal in the semi-finals.
Despite facing a long list of injuries, and the departure of many key players after Euro 2024, the German team is still one of the most impressive teams in Europe this season and they will continue to assert their position.
Latest Italy vs Germany score prediction
Based on the above football comments, we and the world's leading football sites have given the results of the match.Italy vs Germanyas follows:
- Sportsmole:Italy 2-1 Germany
- WhoScore:Italy 1-2 Germany
- Our newspaper predicts:Italy 2-1 Germany
When and where to watch Italy vs Germany live?
To watch the live match between Italy and Germany in the Nations League taking place at 1:45 a.m. on March 21, viewers can watch onK+ Sport,K+PMor online sports channels. Wish you have fun watching football.
