Reuters
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UEFA Nations League – Group C – Germany vs Italy
UEFA Nations League – Group C – Germany vs Italy
UEFA Nations League – Group C – Germany vs Italy
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Football – UEFA Nations League – Group C – Germany – Italy – Borussia Park, Mönchengladbach, Germany – June 14, 2022 Joshua Kimmich in a match with Italy’s Luis Felipe Reuters / Heiko Becker
Mönchengladbach, June 15 (BNA): Germany defeated Italy 5-2 today, Tuesday, with a glittering display of attacking football, to achieve its first victory in Group C of the Nations League, after four matches without any victory, and extended its unbeaten streak under the leadership of coach Hansi Flick.
In Germany’s best performance under Flick, Timo Werner scored twice after goals by Joshua Kimmich, Ilkay Gundogan and Thomas Muller were in the driving seat, Reuters reported.
Young Wilfried Gonto reduced the difference in the 78th minute, and Alessandro Bastoni headed in the second for the visitors in stoppage time.
It was Germany’s first Nations League win in four matches, and the first for Flick, who are unbeaten in 13 matches since taking charge last year, against a major European nation. They tied with Italy 10 days ago.
Germany is eyeing a World Cup climax in Qatar after being knocked out in the first round in 2018, and now has six points in second place, one point behind Hungary.
“I must congratulate the team that put in such a performance in the fourth match of the Nations League,” Flick said.
“We needed to win because wins are good for confidence and we saw after the first goal what was possible.”
“We are looking forward to the road to the World Cup. We have two matches in September to see what still needs to be fixed or adapted,” he added.
Flick’s side struggled in a 1-1 draw against Hungary last week after they drew by the same score against England and Italy earlier this month.
Germany captain Manuel Neuer had promised fireworks from the start and both teams had the chance to score on a pulsating start.
It was Germany that scored the first hit when Kimmich rushed into the penalty area and fired home David Raum in the 10th minute.
The hosts then ramped up the pace, attacking a series of passing moves against the untested Italian side as Jonas Hoffmann and Werner approached the Germans.
At the end of the first half, Gundogan challenged a penalty kick to give them a two-goal lead.
With Italy coach Roberto Mancini making two substitutions, Italy looked more lively after the break.
However, the Germans beat the game with Thomas Muller stealing following a foul from the Italian defence, discharging the wind from the visitors’ sails.
Werner got the score sheet, slipped to connect with Serge Gnabry’s pass in the 68th minute and then added another a minute later when Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s pass was blocked.
Junonto cut the difference with his first international goal, becoming Italy’s youngest goalscorer at the age of 18, and added a second Bastoni to deny the Germans a record difference in defeating them.