Germany secured their first win of the 2022/23 Nations League campaign on Tuesday night. After three consecutive 1-1 draws, Hansi Flick’s side finally got into their stride in Monchengladbach, beating Italy 5-2 to move up to second in Group A3.
Timo Werner scored twice to crown a stunningly impressive Germany win against Italy.
Italy conceded five in a match for the first time since 1957.
Germany beat Italy in a competitive match for the first time at the 11th attempt.
Germany also scored four or more goals against Italy in a competitive fixture for the first time.
Germany, hoping to build on a run of four successive draws, started the brighter and could have taken the lead in the seventh minute but Leroy Sane’s curling effort from the edge of the box flew just wide.
Italy made nine changes from their last outing against England and almost broke through themselves a minute later, Manuel Neuer making a vital save from Giacomo Raspadori. Instead it was Germany who struck first, Joshua Kimmich coolly converting David Raum’s low centre from the left.
Kimmich has scored two goals in his last four Germany internationals, as many as he had managed in his previous 57.
Germany looked the likelier to score the second goal of the game, Gianluigi Donnarumma making three saves as half-time approached. The Italy goalkeeper was beaten just before the interval, however, İlkay Gundogan lofting his spot kick down the middle after Jonas Hofmann had been sent tumbling by Alessandro Bastoni.
The Azzurri started the second half purposefully, Bryan Cristante unable to cap a neat passing move, but any hopes of a comeback were effectively extinguished in the 51st minute, Thomas Muller’s half-volley flying just out of the reach of Donnarumma to open up a three-goal cushion.
Thomas Muller scored his 44th international goal to overtake Uwe Seeler and go outright seventh in Germany leading scorers.
The introduction of Serge Gnabry just after the hour indicated the home team were not going to let up and it was the Bayern forward who was instrumental in teeing up Timo Werner for two close-range finishes in as many minutes.
Timo Werner’s two goals came in the space of just 91 seconds.
One bright spot for Roberto Mancini’s side has been the recent emergence of Wilfried Gnonto, the 18-year-old tapping in his first international goal on his fourth Azzurri appearance from close range after Neuer had spilled Dimarco’s fierce shot.
Gnonto, who has become the country’s youngest scorer at senior level Tuesday evening (aged 18 years and 222 days), overtaking Bruno Nicole who was 37 days older when he netted in 1958.
The latter was also involved in added time, delivering the corner from which Bastoni headed in Italy’s second, but Germany had already done more than enough.
Manuel Neuer won his 116th cap for Germany, putting him joint sixth with Philipp Lahm in the nation’s all-time appearance charts.
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma said ,”We are angry, there are no excuses tonight. We have to look each other in the eyes and start again in order to show that this is not the real Italy. We lacked everything tonight.”
Italy coach Roberto Mancini said ,”It’s a pity to end the season like this. Germany are strong but we allowed them to play the way they prefer. The group, however, is still open. We made a few mistakes and we did not defend well as a team. When you go behind against these kind of players, you always take a lot of risks because they have great pace and they are so dangerous with space.
It’s a long path. We will do good things and some that aren’t as good. Even tonight there were some encouraging signs, like Gnonto’s goal and other chances we created, but Germany were way better than us and deserved to win.”
Germany captain Manuel Neuer said,”We played with confidence and you could tell that we wanted to dominate the whole game and make improvements from recent results. We managed that, but it’s still frustrating to concede two late goals.
We’ve played against three sides that are to be taken seriously. We’ve produced positive results and that was important for us in the lead-up to the World Cup.”
Germany coach Hansi Flick said, “I have to pay the team a huge compliment. Respect to pull off such a performance again in the fourth game.”
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