In a gripping encounter in the Nations League on March 24, 2025, Germany and Italy played to an electrifying 3-3 draw, ultimately leading to Italy's elimination from the tournament while Germany advanced to the Final Four. The match had dramatic twists, with early dominance from Germany that tested the resilience of the Italian side, coached by Luciano Spalletti.
The first half went decisively in favor of Germany, starting with a penalty awarded in the 30th minute for a foul committed by Italy's defender Gatti against Tim Kleindienst. Joshua Kimmich stepped up to take the penalty, placing his shot into the bottom corner of the net, marking the first goal of the match and giving Germany a crucial early advantage.
Just six minutes later, Germany capitalized on a defensive lapse from the Italian team. Jamal Musiala managed to score with a close-range tap-in after a brief mix-up in the Italian defense, expanding the lead to 2-0. As Italy struggled to regain control, Germany continued to press, and just before the halftime whistle, Tim Kleindienst headed in a third goal, making it 3-0 at the break.
In the second half, Italy returned to the pitch determined to fight back. They showcased resilience with Moise Kean leading the charge. Kean found the back of the net just four minutes into the second half, striking from outside the box after capitalizing on a poor back pass by Germany’s Leroy Sané, reducing the deficit to 3-1. The goal reignited hopes for Italy, who began to apply more pressure.
The match took a further twist when an incident in the 74th minute saw referee Szymon Marciniak initially awarding Italy a penalty after Di Lorenzo was fouled in the area by Nico Schlotterbeck. However, after a VAR review, the decision was reversed, sparking anger among the Italian players and supporters.
Despite the disappointment, Italy didn’t give up. As the game reached its dying moments, they won another penalty when Mittelstadt handled the ball during a set piece in the closing seconds of the match. Giacomo Raspadori successfully converted the penalty in the 90+5 minute to level the score at 3-3, providing a dramatic conclusion to the match.
While Italy's come back was commendable, it wasn't enough to ensure their progression. The draw was a bitter pill to swallow, as Italy exited the tournament while Germany celebrated advancing to the next round.
For both teams, the match highlighted critical tactical battles and individual moments of brilliance. The match statistics showed Germany's efficiency in front of goal contrasted with Italy's struggle in the first half, which ultimately sealed their fate. Italy having slipped to a poor start in combined with their commendable fight back underlines a narrative of highs and lows inherent in knockout football.
The final lineup for Germany featured an array of talent, including goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, defenders Antonio Rudiger and Nico Schlotterbeck, and a formidable midfield led by Kimmich and Goretzka. Italy, on the other hand, featured star players like Gianluigi Donnarumma, Nicolò Barella, and had Kean and the promising Maldini upfront.
In summary, this thrilling encounter not only emphasized the competitive nature of international football but also the unpredictable nature of tournament play, where even a comebacks can sometimes end in disappointment. Germany will be hoping to maintain this momentum as they move towards the final stages of the Nations League, while Italy will reflect on their performance and seek to emerge stronger in the next competitions.
