On March 23, 2025, the Italian national football team faced a daunting task in Dortmund, needing to overcome a 2-1 deficit from the first leg of the Nations League quarter-finals against Germany. The match ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw, but it was Germany who advanced with a 5-4 aggregate score, sending the Azzurri home with a bitter taste in their mouths.
From the very start, the game presented a steep uphill battle for coach Luciano Spalletti and his squad. Germany dominated the first half, exerting relentless pressure on Italy while showcasing their speed and efficiency. Within the first 30 minutes of play, the situation became dire for Italy when central defender Buongiorno inappropriately held Germany's Kleindienst, resulting in a penalty kick that Joshua Kimmich confidently converted to put the home team ahead at 1-0.
The German side showed no signs of slowing down. Just six minutes later, Kleindienst's header from a corner kick found the back of the net after an astonishing assist from Musiala, making it 2-0 and further demoralizing the Italians. By the time the halftime whistle sounded, Kimmich struck again, setting up Kleindienst for another goal, leading to a pitiful 3-0 scoreline at halftime.
Spalletti's response to the dismal first half included tactical changes, substituting Politano and Frattesi for Gatti and Daniel Maldini, seeking to reignite Italy's offensive play. The changes paid off early in the second half. In the 50th minute, Italy capitalized on a crucial blunder from German players Sané and Kimmich, allowing Moise Kean to intercept and score, narrowing the deficit to 3-1.
With renewed vigor, Italy pressed for more goals. Kean struck again in the 69th minute, finishing a well-placed assist from substitute Raspadori to bring the score to 3-2. The momentum was clearly shifting, but Italy's hopes were almost dashed when a penalty awarded to Italy in the 73rd minute for a foul on Di Lorenzo was controversially overturned following a VAR review.
Despite this setback, the drama continued to unfold in the dying minutes of the match. Following an intense attack in injury time, Italy was awarded a penalty after a handball offense, which Raspadori calmly converted to level the score at 3-3. However, Italy needed a further goal to force extra time, and as the final whistle blew, it was Germany who celebrated their advancement to the semi-finals.
Germany’s head coach, Julian Nagelsmann's tactics were praiseworthy as they capitalized on Italy's errors early on and maintained control. Their impressive lineup included key players like Kimmich, Musiala, and Kleindienst, establishing their presence throughout the game.
The match's outcome puts Italy in a challenging position going forward, having to regroup before their upcoming World Cup qualifiers where they will compete in a group including Norway. Spalletti must address the defensive lapses witnessed in the first half if they are to secure success in future matches.
This match highlights both the promise and the pitfalls of Italian football at this juncture, especially considering the potential shown during the second half. The spirited comeback may serve as a silver lining as the team heads into a competitive qualifying phase, but it leaves behind the haunting memories of a first half that could have been handled far better.
