We only needed a point but we walked away with three. Luciano Spalletti’s Azzurri are flying and beat Belgium 1-0 in Brussels thanks to Sandro Tonali’s first goal for Italy to secure their fourth win in the last five games. Already sure of being one of the top seeds for the World Cup qualifiers draw, Italy have qualified for the Nations League quarter-finals with a game to go, remaining unbeaten. On Sunday, a draw or even a narrow defeat against France, who sufferred a goalless draw tonight against Israel, would be enough for us to finish top of our group. Something that few people would have predicted three months ago.

The Azzurri showed once again that they know how to perform on the pitch at the King Baudoin Stadium, formerly the Heysel Stadium, where yesterday we laid three wreaths in remembrance of the victims of the tragedy 39 years ago. Tonight, our movement was unstoppable, our individuals worked for the group. Rovella did well on his debut and Barella put in a good performance for his first appearance of the season. Once again, Di Lorenzo was one of the best with his assist for Tonali. Buongiorno did well to mark his club teammate Lukaku who looked dangerous in the last part of the game. But, the entire team deserve to be applauded for another brilliant group performance. Another positive: after having conceded at least one goal in the last eight games, Donnarumma remained unbeaten tonight.

Spalletti: “The lads did well, the pitch was difficult to play on in the second half and we lost some clarity, we put in a few too many wrong balls. Then, meeting the opposition’s runs became very difficult but the lads fought like lions. I liked everyone’s attitude, we showed that we are a tough side”. The matchwinner, Tonali, explained this Azzurri side’s secret: “There’s a lot of tranquillity in the group, none of us can wait for the next training camp”.

MATCH REPORT. With Calafiori and Ricci out through injury, Spalletti was counting on Buongiorno and debutant Rovella. Tonali and Frattesi secured their spot in the midfield and Cambiaso and Dimarco down the wings. Whilst since the Euros, Barella has moved higher up behind Retegui. Belgium had Romelu Lukaku back, missing at the Olimpico, but still had to do without De Bruyne as well as Doku and De Ketelaere now out. Five at the back and three in attack for Tedesco’s side, leaving the press behind to let the Azzurri guide proceedings. For Italy, this worked out rather well. In Rome, it took Cambiaso just one minute to open the scoring and tonight it took us 11. Not bad. Di Lorenzo played off Barella, De Cuyper couldn’t get to the ball and the Napoli defender put in a low cross for Tonali who tapped home. The number 8 bagged his first-ever Italy goal and his first since being back from serving his ban. Having taken the lead, Italy sat back but Lukaku got caught up by Buongiorno and Bastoni and the Belgium build-up petered out in the final third. As ‘perfectly undisciplined’ players (cit. Spalletti), the Azzurri kept the Belgium defence guessing and got back underway quickly, constantly attacking with six or seven men. In the 40th minute, some brilliant group action: Barella for Frattesi who passed to a running Cambiaso before serving Tonali, Debast’s intervention proved decisive. We headed into the dressing rooms at the break to the sound of whistles and applause from around 6,000 Italy fans.

Not managing to get into the box, Belgium tried from outside. At the start of the second half, Debast had a go from 30 meters out to test Donnarumma for the first time in the game before Trossard failed to shoot on target. But in the space of just a few minutes, Italy risked an equaliser three times. Frattesi set Retegui off who made a good run towards the goal before Casteels came out to deflect the shot. Just after, Frattesi again, he couldn’t quite bury the header from Buongiorno, the ball arriving from Dimarco, whilst Di Lorenzo guided the ball just high from close range. We had many chances but Donnarumma also had work to do as he dived to keep out Trossard’s volley before saving another shot from Openda.

Kean and Udogie came on for Retegui and Dimarco then Locatelli and Raspadori for Rovella and Barella. Lukaku headed wide from a good position and at the other end, Kean took a touch too many to waste a good chance. Spalletti was aware of the Azzurri’s struggles with set pieces and brought on Gatti for Cambiaso as fresh legs. The biggest threats, in fact, came from dead-ball situations: hassled by Di Lorenzo, Lukaku shot high before Faes hit the post. A little bit of luck did not go amiss but Italy earned their well-deserved ticket to the quarter-finals. On Sunday at the sold-out Meazza in Milan, it will be enough to draw against France to ensure we finish top of our group and close out 2024 in the best way possible. Now, the Euros are just a bad memory.

BELGIUM 0-1 ITALY

BELGIUM (3-5-2): Casteels; Debast, Faes,Theate (71’ Al Dakhil); Castagne (87’ Bakayoko), Engels (71' Vermeeren), Onana, Trossard, De Cuyper (78’ Lukebakio); Openda, Lukaku. Subs: Vandevoordt, Sels, Mbangula, Sardella, Mangala, Sambi Lokonga, Smets. Coach: Tedesco.

ITALIA (3-5-1-1): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Buongiorno; Cambiaso (81’ Gatti), Frattesi, Rovella (78’ Locatelli), Tonali, Dimarco (68’ Udogie); Barella (78’ Raspadori); Retegui (68’ Kean). Subs: Meret, Vicario, Savona, Maldini, Okoli, Comuzzo, Pisilli. Coach: Spalletti.

Goalscorers: 11’ Tonali (I)

Referees: Petrescu (Romania). Assistants: Ghinguleac and Grigoriu (Romania). Fourth official: Birsan (Romania). VAR: Popa (Romania). AVAR: Chivulete (Romania)

Notes: booked: Castagne (B), Bastoni (I), Onana (B), Al Dakhil (B), Kean (I)

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

Matchday 5 (14 November)

Belgium 0-1 Italy
France 0-0 Israel

Table: Italia 13 punti, Francia 10, Belgio 4, Israele 1

Matchday 6 (17 November)

Italy vs. France (20:45 CET - Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milano)
Israel vs. Belgium (20:45 CET - Bozsik Aréna, Budapest)