Belgium-Italy 0-1, Azzurri in the Nations League quarter-finals: the match

L’Italy advances to the Nations League quarter-finals and will be seeded next December 13th in the draw in Zurich for the qualifying groups for the 2026 World Cup. At the ‘King Baldovino’ stadium in Brussels, the Azzurri won 1-0 over Belgium thanks to a goal by Tonali in the 11th minute and remain in command of group 2 of League A of the Nations League with 13 points, the result of 4 wins and a draw and maintain a one-point lead over France (1-0 victory over Israel) with which they will compete for first place next Sunday in Milan.

The match

The first attempt of the match arrives after six minutes, Frattesi tries from outside the area, a too central shot saved by Casteels. After 11 minutes the Azzurri broke the deadlock with Tonali. Beautiful action by the Azzurri with a combination between Barella and Di Lorenzo, ball in the middle, the Newcastle midfielder arrives and only has to tap it into the net. We have to wait until the 23rd minute to see a dangerous move from the home team with Trossard controlling and shooting from the edge, the ball rebounded by the Italy defence.

After a minute Retegui works a good ball into the area, the ball goes out to the limit, Rovella shoots but the ball is largely inaccurate. In the 28th minute Castagne was booked for a foul on Tonali. In the half hour, Donnarumma’s first real intervention on a cross from the right by Engels, the PSG goalkeeper dives away. In the final part of the first half the ‘red devils’ grew and raised the center of gravity of their game but without creating particular problems in Donnarumma’s area, indeed in the 44th minute the Azzurri became dangerous again, nice assist from Cambiaso for Tonali, providential the closure of Debast.

At the start of the second half the hosts showed up twice in Donnarumma’s area, first with a shot from Engels from distance which went high over the crossbar and then with Trossard: he also finished high. In the 9th minute Spalletti’s boys were close to doubling their lead with a deadly counterattack concluded by Retegui, Casteels saving in the corner. In the 10th minute Italy came close to doubling their lead twice again, first Di Lorenzo failed to make the deflection a few steps from the goal line, then he headed the ball high but sent it high from two steps. In the 12th minute, a great shot by Trossard from the edge of the area with Donnarumma stretching out and deflecting it into a corner. In the 16th minute Belgium takes advantage of an error by Frattesi, Openda shoots diagonally, the Azzurri goalkeeper blocks with his foot.

In the 23rd minute fresh forces for the Azzurri with Udogie and Kean replacing Dimarco and Retegui. Shortly afterwards double change also for Tedesco: Engels and Theate come out, Vermeeren and Al-Dakhil come in. In the 33rd minute the home side threatened with a header from Lukaku, with the ball just wide. In the 34th minute the round of changes continues, among the Azzurri Locatelli and Raspadori replace Rovella and Barella, for the red devils Lukebakio takes De Cuyper’s place.

In the 37th minute Spalletti runs out of substitutions with Gatti for Cambiaso. Between the 38th and 39th minutes the home team came close to equalizing on two occasions. First with Lukaku who goes to shoot from Al-Dakhil’s bank but the shot is deflected for a corner and then with a header from Faes and it hits the post. In the 42nd minute, last substitution for Beglio with Bakayoko replacing Castagne. In the final, the hosts attempted an attack but the Azzurri defended themselves with order and without conceding anything.

Spalletti

“They were good, in the second half the pitch became heavy and we lost a bit of clarity. We missed a few too many balls, on pitches like this it becomes essential to keep the ball because adapting to the opponents’ run becomes very difficult. When they came into our half of the pitch and it became complicated but the boys were lions,” said Italy coach Luciano Spalletti. “Rovella’s debut and everyone’s attitude were nice, they showed that they are a tough team – he underlined on Rai Sport’s microphone -. Being Italy we always have the possibility of finding 30 players to make a strong national team, it’s been said 500 times. We need to find the right solutions and put them in a position to play as a team but they found that on their own because they are strong guys.”