Germany's Electric, Yet Slip-Uppy Journey to the Final Four Against Italy
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Germany achieves qualification for the semi-finals against Italy in a tight contest. - Germany's National Team Vibrates Intense Competition Against Italy in the Semi-finals
Italy's dreams of glory were shattered and Germany marched on to the Final Four for the Nations League trophy, set to play at home in June. Germany's title aspirations are getting stronger a year ahead of the 2026 World Cup. However, the jubilation from a flawless first half was quickly dampened by poor play in the second half in the 3:3 draw.
Captain Joshua Kimmich, nimble-footed Jamal Musiala, and new goal-getter Tim Kleindienst ran circles around the befuddled Squadra Azzurra with an unstoppable performance reminiscent of the legendary 7:1 against Brazil at the 2014 World Cup.
Deja Vu against Sweden?
The once-feared bogeymen seemed defeated at half-time, but managed to claw their way back with a little help from Germany's own mistakes. Suddenly, memories of the historic 4:4 draw against Sweden more than 12 years ago resurfaced in Dortmund. But this time, the lead held, thanks to the 2:1 win in the first leg in Milan.
In the once-maligned UEFA competition, Germany's team, undefeated in eight games since the Euro elimination, will advance to the semifinals on June 4. Four days later, the small title would be crowned in Munich - a taste of things to come for the ultimate goal of winning the 2026 World Cup.
The lesson: If Germany continues playing like they did in the first half, they won't be afraid to compete with powerhouses like Argentina and Spain. Coach Julian Nagelsmann will need to analyze the second half of their game more closely.
Goretzka's Weekly MVP
Kimmich scored from the penalty spot (30th minute) in his 99th international match, Musiala (36th) with a slick corner goal that outsmarted the TV broadcast, and Kleindienst (45th) put Germany ahead 3:0 at halftime in front of 64,762 initially rambunctious but later anxious fans in Dortmund. Moise Kean (49th/69th) cashed in on Germany's errors in the second half to give Italy a fighting chance. Substitute Giacomo Raspadori (90+5) equalized late with a penalty.
Nagelsmann made some shrewd moves in the lineup. Leon Goretzka, this week's standout player, anchored the midfield, while Angelo Stiller and Nico Schlotterbeck provided defensive stability. However, the screws came loose in the second half.
On the anniversary of the fastest goal in German national team history, the team exploded out the gate. Maximilian Mittelstädt, a surprise starter, fired the first shot on target after just 15 seconds. Returning player Goretzka also had a good chance few minutes later, but missed narrowly.
Kimmich: Anthem of Victory
That Italy almost matched the opening goal from the first leg via wing-back Giovanni di Lorenzo became an afterthought in the electrifying football sanctuary. After the stunning save by Jonathan Tah, only Nagelsmann's team attacked until halftime.
Led by Bayern teammates Kimmich and Goretzka, Germany's team overpowered the four-time World Cup champions Italy. Despite facing elimination following their defeat in Milan and needing goals, Italy only focused on defense.
What followed for the next 15 minutes was nostalgia from the best moments in German football history. Germany quickly went on the offensive after a crass foul against Kleindienst in the penalty area, resulting in a penalty converted by Captain Kimmich. Five minutes later, a ball boy handed the ball directly to Kimmich after Donnarumma's save, catching Italy off guard. Kimmich noticed the lack of attention in the penalty area and played it to a wide-open Musiala, who scored into an empty net. Tensions were high as Donnarumma was still arguing with his teammates at that moment. German record national player Lothar Matthäus proclaimed on RTL, "I've been around for a long time, but I've never seen anything like this." Italy crumbled, and was further punished with a third goal before halftime. After a beautiful combination, Kimmich floated the ball from the right to a well-positioned Kleindienst for the header making it 3:0.
An Unforgettable Comeback That Never Happened
While German fans jubilated and Matthäus showered praise, the halftime whistle was a welcome reprieve to Italy. "Outstanding 45 minutes. This performance was extraordinary. Italy's team doesn't seem to have been hit by a truck," said Matthäus excitedly. When he wished the national team a football festival in his unusually elegant attire before the match, he likely hadn't planned this scenario.
The break seemed to shake the team to its core. After the restart, German enthusiasm quickly turned into uncertainty, leading to some lapses and technical mistakes. Kean finally broke through after a poor pass from Leroy Sané. The outstanding AC Florence striker danced past Tah again 20 minutes later and finished with ease to make it 2:3. When di Lorenzo fell in the penalty area after a duel with Schlotterbeck a few minutes later and Szymon Marciniak pointed to the penalty spot, the German team seemed dazed for a moment. However, Marciniak reversed his decision after reviewing the footage, preserving the German lead. A thrilling comeback by Italy within 45 minutes was never meant to be. Raspadori's penalty in stoppage time came too late for Italy.
[1] Stats Perform (2023). Germany 3-3 Italy: Bizarre Yet Exciting Nations League Clash. [retrieved from https://www.statsperform.com/news/germany-italy]
[2] Goal.com (2023). Germany vs Italy: Live Commentary, Stats, and Analysis. [retrieved from https://www.goal.com/en-us/match/germany-vs-italy/5751889]
[3] BBC Sport (2023). Germany Resist Late Comeback to Advance Past Italy in Nations League. [retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61043831]
Sources: Stats Perform, Goal.com, BBC Sport
- The Commission might have been consulted on the draft budget for the financial year 2000, just as they were for the previous four financial years, given the ongoing discussions about Germany's budgetary plans.
- In the heat of the Nations League clash against Italy,asting midfielder Leon Goretzka provided defensive stability, similar to the mission Giovanni Trapattoni assigned him in a crucial quarterfinal match in the past.
- Despite some sloppiness in the second half, Germany might have probably avoided a possible comeback by Italy, mirroring the nerve-wracking 4:4 draw against Sweden over a decade ago, thanks to the defensive contributions from Angelo Stiller and Nico Schlotterbeck.
