Nations League 2024/2025: Luciano Spalletti’s Italy Vs Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany – Tactical Analysis

Italy hosted Germany for the first leg of the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals at the historic San Siro stadium in Milan.

The game ended 1-2 in Germanys favor, which does not really reflect what happened.

Though Germany had more possession, Italy created more dangerous goal-scoring opportunities.

Still, Germany were more clinical in front of goal and made the most of their few chances to win the match.

Italy finished the group stage in second behind France with 13 points, four wins, one draw, and one loss.

In League A’s Group 2, Italy beat France 1-3 in France, which was a very positive start to the tournament.

Then they beat Israel 1-2 away.

Afterwards, the team drew against Belgium, beat Israel 4-1 at home, beat Belgium away, and then lost to France 1-3 despite playing at San Siro.

Following this match against Germany, the winner of the Italy-Germany tie will face Portugal or Denmark in the semi-finals.

On the other hand, Germany finished the League A group stage with 14 points, four wins and two draws, topping Group 3.

They opened the competition with a significant 5-0 win against Hungary, a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands, an away win against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a home win against the Netherlands, a 7-0 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and an away draw against Hungary.

Historically, the encounters between Italy and Germany have always been entertaining and very competitive, whether in the World Cup, the Euros, the Nations League, or even in friendly games.

This match did not break the rule, as the rhythm was very high throughout the game.

In this tactical analysis article on Italys match against Germany, we will present both teams’ lineups and formations.

The analysis will aim to identify the strengths and weaknesses of both teams in this match, as well as the tactics used by both head coaches.

Italy Vs Germany Lineups & Formations

Luciano Spalletti preferred to start the match in Italy’s typical 3-5-2 formation, yet with newer names in many positions, such as Moise Kean as a striker and Destiny Udogie in place of the injured Federico Dimarco.

The line-up was composed of Gianluigi Donnarumma as a goalkeeper, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Alessandro Bastoni and Riccardo Calafiori as centre-backs, Destiny Udogie and Matteo Politano as wing-backs, Nicolò Rovella as a defensive midfielder, Milan’s Sandro Tonali and Inter Milan’s Nicolò Barella as central midfielders, with Moise Kean and Napoli’s Giacomo Raspadori forming the team’s attacking duo.

On the other hand, Julian Nagelsmann and his coaching staff opted for the 4-2-3-1 formation with Oliver Baumann as a goalkeeper, Real Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger and Jonathan Tah as centre-backs, Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich as a right-back, David Raum as a left-back, Leon Goretzka and Pascal Groß as central midfielders, Leroy Sané and Nadiem Amiri as wingers, with Jamal Musiala playing as an advanced playmaker behind the striker Jonathan Burkardt.

Italy’s Performance Vs Germany

Italy scored their first goal of the match early in the game thanks to a crucial long pass from Bastoni, which gave Italy numerical superiority on the right side.

Barella’s quick and accurate through pass to Politano made the difference.

That pass broke Germany’s defensive line and allowed Politano to serve Tonali, who intelligently made himself available inside Germany’s penalty box.

The tactic of leaving possession to Germany, especially during the first part of the first half, and launching counterattacks quickly and vertically as soon as the Azzurri intercepted the ball proved successful for them.

They scored their first goal after the second counterattack of the match.

This goal was scored thanks to Bastoni’s cross, Barella’s key pass, Politano’s quick decision-making, and, more importantly, Tonali’s advancing towards the box to create numerical superiority during a crucial counterattack.

This helped Politano find an unmarked player in that area, especially given that two defenders marked Kean.

Italy’s Crucial Counterattacking Action

Although Italy failed to gain more possession even after scoring the first goal, they remained more dangerous than Germany.

Tonali could have scored his second goal of the match by exploiting a second ball that was very inviting for a shot from a distance.

Unluckily for Italy, Tonali’s shot was saved by Baumann, even though the former Milan midfielder’s shot was powerful and well-oriented.

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