In March 2019, the National Team beat Finland 2-0 at the Fruili to start their long journey to becoming European Champions in 2021. Five years and seven months later, at the same stadium, the Azzurri ran out convincing 4-1 winners over Israel to take an important step towards the Nations League quarter-finals and securing a spot in Pot 1 in the World Cup qualifying draw. With France having got the better of Belgium, Luciano Spalletti’s men now just need a point from their last two games against Les Bleus and the Red Devils in November to progress to the last eight.

It was a convincing display from the Azzurri, who remain unbeaten since the start of the new season (three wins from four matches) and once again played some high-quality football. The Euros are very much a thing of the past. The man to open the scoring was Mateo Retegui, who, after missing three big chances, converted a penalty won by Tonali towards the end of the first half. Then, after the restart, Di Lorenzo bagged twice and Frattesi added to his Italy tally to ensure that the Azzurri came away with a comfortable victory, despite Abu Fani scoring directly from a corner to temporarily make it 2-1. With Italy fully in command, there were debuts for both Daniel Maldini and Lorenzo Lucca, the latter at his home stadium.

“In the first half, we didn’t finish the chances we created, missing some gilt-edged ones,” said Luciano Spalletti. “It was no simple thing to get ourselves into as many scoring situations as we did because they had a lot of bodies in front of the area. Those who came on did well, and, even though we could have scored more goals, that’s fine.” In a month, the Azzurri will be looking to complete the job in the final 180 minutes: “We still have two very tough matches,” warned the Head Coach. “If Belgium win both their games, they can draw level with us. So we need to pick up a result.”

THE MATCH. When the Azzurri faced Israel in Budapest a month ago, Spalletti made five changes to the side that had beaten France at the Parc des Princes 72 hours prior. This time around, four days on from the home draw against Belgium, he opted to bring in three new faces (one forced). Vicario, a Udine native, was chosen between the sticks, Fagioli got the nod over Ricci in midfield, and, with Pellegrini suspended, Raspadori joined Retegui in attack.

Italy made a strong start, but it was Israel who had the first real opportunity: Gloukh drilled inches wide for the visitors after Fagioli had given the ball away in midfield. It was a scare for the Azzurri and a sign of the threat Ben Simon’s side can pose when they quickly decide to press their opponents in the attacking third. Nevertheless, Italy were in control, and Retegui came close twice, first after being picked out by Di Lorenzo with a ball over the top and then following a flowing move also involving Raspadori and Frattesi. In both instances, he was thwarted by Glazer, who also kept out a close-range effort from Tonali. On the half-hour mark, Retegui got on the end of a Dimarco cross but could only direct the ball into the side netting. At the other end, Gloukh fired over after being set up by Dor Peretz. The latter was then at the heart of the action in the Israeli penalty box, bringing down Tonali for an Italy penalty. Retegui stepped up and made no mistake. The Atalanta striker, who now has six goals to his name in an Azzurri shirt, thus scored for a second consecutive match after also bagging against Belgium. It was a fully deserved lead.

With Ricci on for Fagioli, the Azzurri took to the pitch for the second half with the clear aim of putting the game to bed. The second goal arrived nine minutes into the second half thanks to two players who starred under Spalletti when he was in charge of Napoli: Raspadori’s free-kick was met by Di Lorenzo, who nodded home his first of the evening. Italy looked very comfortable, but then came an unexpected goal for Israel: with Baltaxa making his presence felt on the goal line, Abu Fani surprised Vicario and scored directly from a corner. Once again, as has been the case in the last seven matches, the Azzurri’s hopes of a clean sheet were dashed. However, Italy responded quickly: following a fantastic save from Glazer to keep out a Bastoni header, Frattesi added a third from a pull-back by the excellent Dimarco. The Inter midfielder has now scored eight goals for the Azzurri and, in finding the net tonight, cemented his status as the team’s most prolific scorer since Luciano Spalletti took the helm (seven).

The Head Coach added fresh legs, with Udogie and Maldini entering the fray. The latter thus earned his first Azzurri cap at the same stadium where his father, Paolo (who was in the stands this evening), made his AC Milan debut aged just 16. The two substitutes were then involved in the move that led to Italy’s fourth goal. It was scored by the captain, Di Lorenzo, who bagged his first brace for the National Team. The 11,700 spectators at the Friuli were desperate to see Lorenzo Lucca come on at his home stadium, and this wish was granted. He became the second debutant of the evening and the tenth since the start of the Spalletti era. A job well done. The Nations League will return in a month, when Italy will play their final two group games, first against Belgium in Brussels and then against France in Milan. A single point separates the Azzurri from the quarter-finals and an excellent starting position in the race for the World Cup.

ITALY 4-1 ISRAEL

ITALIA (3-5-2): Vicario; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori; Cambiaso, Frattesi (86’ Buongiorno), Fagioli (46’ Ricci), Tonali, Dimarco (73’ Udogie); Raspadori (73’ Maldini), Retegui (84’ Lucca). Subs: Donnarumma, Di Gregorio, Bellanova, Gabbia, Okoli, Zaniolo, Pisilli. Head Coach: Spalletti.

ISRAEL (3-4-2-1): Glazer; Feingold, Nachmias, Baltaxa; Abada (75’ Baribo), Abu Fani, Kanichowsky (46’ Jaber), Haziza (63’ Gropper); Do. Peretz (80’ Safuri), Gloukh; Madmon (63’ Khalaili). Subs: Keuof, Gerafi, Stoinov, Azoulay, Leidner, Biton, E. Peretz. Head Coach: Ben Simon.

Goalscorers: 41’ pen. Retegui (IT), 9’ and 79’ Di Lorenzo (IT), 65’ Abu Fani (IS), 72’ Frattesi (IT).

Referee: De Burgos (Spain). Linesmen: De Francisco and Rodriguez Moreno (Spain). Fourth official: Gonzalez Fuertes (Spain). VAR: Del Cerro Grande (Spain). AVAR: Cordero Vega (Spain).

Notes: Attendance 11,700. Cambiaso (IT) 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

Matchday 3 (10 October)
Italy 2-2 Belgium
Israel 1-4 France

Matchday 4 (14 October)
Italy 4-1 Israel
Belgium 1-2 France

Table: Italy 10 points, France 9, Belgium 4, Israel 0

ITALY’S NEXT FIXTURES

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)