European champions Italy faces rejuvenated Germany in a colossal battle in Group C of League A in the Nations League. England and Hungary make up the rest of the group.
The Azzurri were humbled by Copa America champions Argentina 3-0 for the Finalissima trophy to rub wounds on their failure to get into the World cup while Germany come in good hearts, yet to lose under manager Hansi Flick
ITA vs GER UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Match Details
Date: Saturday, 4th June 2022/ Sunday, 5th June 2022
Time: 20:45 (CET)/ 00:15 (IST)
Venue: Renato Dall'Ara, Bologna
ITA vs GER UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Match Preview
Contrary to the last year when Italy crowned themselves Euro champions, 2022 has arrived with a lot of pain than joy for the Azzurri. After failing to achieve an automatic berth to the World Cup in Qatar, Roberto Manchini’s team suffered a surprise 1-0 loss to lower-ranked North Macedonia in the playoff once again in front of their home crowd furthering their wait for a World cup for four more years. Unlike their disappointment in 2017, this time the team had massive potential to at least be at the stage yet the ghost of the previous elimination haunted them again. If that was not all, Italy failed to keep the honour of being the Euro winners by getting thrashed 3-0 in the Finalissima in the farewell game for the everlasting Giorgio Chiellini. Lionel Messi ran the show for Albeceleste as the Italians were left clueless to sustain him. Manchini did make some changes keeping the more important fixtures in mind and major injuries to cope with but it should not be an excuse for the embarrassing defeat. Almost all of the players involved were part of the Euro winning squad. A change of the dynamism and it could not be better to try out in this competition. After all, the Nations League is the only competition they can ask for until the next major competition rolls in.
However, the road gets stiffer now onwards with Germany, England and even Hungary unbothered to show any mercy to them. Firstly, its Germany, whom they face twice in June, stands in their way. Manager Hansi Flick was surprised for Italy did not make it to the showpiece in Qatar but won’t be doing the same for his team’s performance. Germany brewed into the World Cup topping their group, winning nine of their fixtures and losing just once to giant-killers North Macedonia. Since Flick took over after the Euros the team have dropped points only once, that being a friendly against the Netherlands in March. In that period, they scored 34 goals and conceded just two. A staggering record for Manchini to fear before he unleashes the new era of Italian football. Flick has rightfully brought his geniuses with Bayern Munich to a more pressurized environment and made Germany a force to reckon with again after distasteful years. Hope is restored with the team with a wealth of talent to show. The next step for Die Mannschaft is to improve their low par record in the Nations League. They only got to register their first win in the competition last season. So, qualifying for the playoff should be the bare minimum if they are to level this campaign a success.
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Italy: LWLDD
Germany: DWWWW
ITA vs GER UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Team News
Injuries will prove to be a stumbling block for Italy once again with Domenico Berardi (Thigh) and Lorenzo Insigne and Marco Verratti (Both calf injuries) nowhere close to featuring for the game. Lazio striker Ciro Immobile has failed to make it to the squad with an ankle injury so Andrea Belloti is set to lead the line again. Nicolo Zaniolo is also out. Emerson, Jorginho, Manuel Lazzari, Mattia Zaccagni, Federico Bernardeschi and Salvatore Sirigu have been sent home. Manchini explained the reason for them not being fit enough to compete in the four games so left them for some rest after a hectic league season.
For Germany, Leon Goretzka was in doubt with an ankle injury but he is set to be available to face the Azzurri but Marco Reus misses out with flu-like symptoms on his return to the national team. Marc Andre Ter Stegen and Julian Draxler are not called to the side. There are no other headaches for Hansi Flick.
ITA vs GER UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Expected Lineups
Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Leonardo Bonucci, Alessandro Bastoni, Cristiano Biraghi; Nicolo Barella, Manuel Locatelli, Sandro Tonali; Mateo Politano, Andrea Belotti, Giacomo Raspodari
Germany: Manuel Neuer; Thilo Kehrer, Nicolas Sule, Antonio Rudiger, David Raum; Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, Thomas Muller, Leroy Sane; Kai Havertz
ITA vs GER UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Head to Head
Italy’s last competitive meeting with the Germans was the 2016 Euro championship quarter-finals where the latter triumphed on penalties and inflicted the first-ever damage on the Azzurri in a major competition. In normal time though aside from friendlies, Italy have never lost to Germany. The recent meeting between these two ended goalless in a friendly eight years ago.
ITA vs GER UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Neuer (8.5)
DEF: Di Lorenzo (8.5), Bonucci (9), Rudiger (9), Raum (8.5)
MID: Barella (9), Kimmich (9), Tonali (8.5), Sane (9)
FW: Muller (9.5), Havertz (9)
Captain: Thomas Muller
Vice-captain: Joshua Kimmich
