Two wins, five goals in 180 minutes and six points. After the disappointment of the Euros, the numbers make for good reading again for the National Team, who, after getting the better of France, also defeated Israel this evening. And thanks to Les Bleus 2-0 victory over Belgium, the Azzurri now sit on their own at the top of their Nations League group. Italy emerged victorious at the Bozsik Arena in Budapest thanks to goals in each half by Davide Frattesi and Moise Kean, allowing Spalletti’s men to take a step towards the quarter-finals and being a seeded side for the World Cup qualifying draw.

It was a young Italy side that displayed maturity and went on the hunt for the opening goal for 40 minutes. Once that arrived, the Azzurri doubled their advantage in the second half before conceding late on, although it didn’t stop them from coming away with three points. Ricci and Tonali were once again fantastic, Frattesi once again found the net, and Moise Kean scored for the National Team for the first time in three years. Raspadori also impressed, while Dimarco provided the assist for the opener after his wonderful strike in Paris. All in all, it was a convincing performance from the whole group, who built on the fantastic display at the Parc des Princes.

“We were splended,” said the Head Coach after the match. “There were so many dangers that we talked about, and we saw them tonight. The fact that we were organised and waited for the right moment was vital. This wasn’t just a mature team, but a very mature one. The players played as they do at club level and some can find each other with their eyes closed. We did better in the second half, passing and moving the ball around well.” The first 180 minutes of the new season have certainly been positive: “We’ve produced two fantastic performances, and I’ve received the responses that I wanted. Now, we need to carry on down this path.”

THE MATCH. Just 72 hours from the match against France, it was inevitable that there would be new faces in the starting line-up. Indeed, Spalletti made five changes but kept the same 3-5-2 formation. Gatti and Buongiorno were brought in for Di Lorenzo and the injured Calafiori, while Bellanova got the nod over Cambiaso on the right flank. Meanwhile, Raspadori and Kean, both of whom came on in the second half in Paris, started up front.

After a good start for Israel – Gatti and Bellanova – both made crucial interventions in defence, Italy began to control possession. Bellanova’s runs down the flank forced the Israeli defence to make the first two fouls of the game, while Dimarco tested Gerafi and then fired over the bar. It wasn’t easy to find space against a side who were happy to sit back in their half of the pitch. There was a chance for either side around the half-hour mark: Bellanova scuffed his effort from an excellent position, while Solomon, Israel’s standout player, failed to hit the target after a mistake by Bellanova at the back.

FRATTESI OPENS THE SCORING. Italy took a 38th-minute lead through Davide Frattesi, who got on the end of a cross from Dimarco, also his Inter teammate, and chested into the net. It was Frattesi’s seventh Italy goal in 21 appearances (his sixth under Spalletti), further confirming his impressive eye for goal. A minute later, Raspadori had an opportunity to make it 2-0, but he didn’t quite get his shot away quickly enough, allowing Gerafi to save. The teams went into the break with Italy 1-0 up and having had 57% possession and seven shots (compared to their opponents’ one).

KEAN ADDS A SECOND. Ben Simon made two changes at half time, sending on Jaber for Lavi and 20-year-old Red Bull Salzburg star Gloukh, who has been likened to Messi, for Khalaili. However, Italy continued to control proceedings, with Gerafi denying Frattesi after a move also involving Bastoni and Dimarco. Shortly afterwards, there was a bit of a scare: a scuffed shot from Peretz turned into an accidental assist for Jehezkel, whose close-range attempt was pushed away by Donnarumma. The second goal of the game arrived after 62 minutes: Frattesi recovered possession on the edge of the area and found Raspadori, whose shot was kept out by Gerafi; however, the ball dropped to Kean, who was left with an easy tap-in. The Fiorentina thus scored for Italy again after a three-year drought.

With the Azzurri 2-0 up, Spalletti sent on Brescianini for Raspadori and added fresh legs on the flanks, with Cambiaso and Udogie taking the places of Bellanova and Dimarco. Italy scored again through Tonali from a Kean assist, but the goal was ruled out for offside. In the closing stages, Zaccagni and Retegui came on the for Ricci and Kean, both of whom had really impressed. But it was another substitute, Abu Fani, who reduced the arrears in the 90th minute. However, the goal came too late to mount a fightback. The Euros are behind us, and the Nations League will return in a month. Up next for the National Team is a clash against Belgium in Rome on 10 October, four days after which Spalletti’s men will face Israel in Udine. The Azzurri will be looking to make the most of home advantage to take a giant leap towards the quarter-finals. The road is still long, but we’re on the right track.

ISRAEL 1-2 ITALY

ISRAEL (4-2-3-1): Gerafi; Jehezkel, Nachmias, Shlomo, Revivo; Abada (78’ David), Kanichowsky (68’ Abu Fani); Lavi (46’ Jaber), Peretz (68’ Safuri), Solomon; Khalaili (46’ Gloukh). Subs: Nir on, Keuof, Faingold, Gandelman, Baribo, Turgeman, Azoulay. Head Coach: Ben Simon.
ITALY (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Gatti, Bastoni, Buongiorno; Bellanova (63’ Cambiaso), Frattesi, Ricci (86’ Zaccagni), Tonali, Dimarco (70’ Udogie); Raspadori (63’ Brescianini), Kean (86’ Retegui). Subs: Vicario, Meret, Okoli, Di Lorenzo, Fagioli, Pellegrini. Head Coach: Spalletti.

Goalscorers: 38’ Frattesi (IT), 62’ Kean (IT), 90’ Abu Fani (IS)

Referee: Kruzliak (Slovakia). Assistants: Hancko and Pozor (Slovakia). Fourth official: Kralovic (Slovakia). VAR: Kwiatkowski-Ocenas (Slovakia)

Note:  Gatti (IT), Jehezkel (IS) and Jaber (IS) booked.

NATIONS LEAGUE LEAGUE A GROUP 2: RESULTS AND TABLE

Matchday 1 (6 September)

Belgium 3-1 Israel
France 1-3 Italy

Matchday 2 (9 September)

Israel 1-2 Italy
France 2-0 Belgium

*Table: Italy 6 points, France and Belgium 3, Israel 0

ITALY’S NEXT FIXTURES

10 October 2024: Italy vs. Belgium (20:45 CEST – Stadio Olimpico, Rome)
14 October 2024: Italy vs. Israel (20:45 CEST – Stadio Friuli, Udine)
14 November 2024: Belgium vs. Italy (20:45 CET – Stade Roi-Bauduin, Brussels)
17 November 2024: Italy vs. France (20:45 CET – Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan)