Nations League: Italy poker, overcome Israel. Azzurri one step away from the quarters
Nations League, Italy-Israel 4-1
Third victory in four Nations League matches for Luciano Spalletti's Italy, which at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine overcame Israel 4-1 and confirmed its leading position in Group 2 of League A. 10 points in the standings for the Azzurri, who only need a point against Belgium next November 14 to advance to the quarterfinals of the competition.
Having overcome an initial study phase, Italy made itself dangerous on several occasions already in the first half from Glazer’s sides: it was mainly Retegui who came close to scoring, without having any luck, at least until 41 minutes in, when the referee whistled a penalty for a foul in Dor Peretz’s box on Tonali and the Atalanta striker did not miss from the eleven meters.
The Azzurri continued to attack even in the early stages of the second half, and the pressure of Spalletti’s team found new concretization in 54': cross from Raspadori’s free kick, header by Di Lorenzo (captain of the evening given the non-use of Gigio Donnarumma, whom the coach preferred Vicario for today) who thus signed 2-0.
Israel tries to reopen the match and does so with a disputed goal scored, directly from the corner kick flag, by Abu Fani at 66': the Azzurri protest for an alleged charge against Vicario, for the referee and the VAR Room there are però no reasons to cancel. However, 6' pass and Italy puts two goals back in the gap: low cross from the left by Dimarco, Frattesi concludes first and seals the tris.
In minute 79 also comes the fourth goal, of a rather similar construction but with different interpreters: this time the low pass, again from the left side, è by Udogie (who entered a few minutes earlier for Dimarco), the goal è by Di Lorenzo, who in a single evening scores two goals while in the previous 41 appearances he had scored a total of three.
There are no other emotions until the triple whistle, Italy leaves the home of Udinese with three more points and the fourth consecutive useful result, which puts the Azzurri back on track after the bitter comeback suffered at the Olimpico against Belgium (from 2-0 to 2-2) last Thursday.
