Mission accomplished: Italy, needing only a draw to secure qualification for the Nations League knockout stage in Belgium, managed to take all three points. With France’s simultaneous home draw against Israel, Italy is now on the brink of mathematically securing first place in the group. To confirm their top position, they only need to avoid losing by two goals in their upcoming home match against France.
The decisive goal came in the 11th minute, when Sandro Tonali capitalized on a precise assist from Giovanni Di Lorenzo, taking advantage of a Belgian defensive mistake. The match saw an assertive Italy from the start, with a dynamic midfield and solid defense. Tonali, who scored the goal, delivered a standout performance, nearly adding a second. Despite missing key players like Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium tried to respond, putting pressure on the Italian defense and forcing several saves from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. However, their lack of accuracy in front of goal kept them from finding the equalizer.
In the second half, Belgium intensified their efforts, creating multiple scoring chances. Romelu Lukaku, returning to the national team, had a golden opportunity in the 78th minute but narrowly missed the target with a header from Timothy Castagne’s cross. Shortly after, Wout Faes hit the post, coming close to equalizing. Despite Belgium’s pressure, Italy’s defense stood firm, displaying determination, organization, and resilience.
At the end of the match, head coach Luciano Spalletti praised the team’s ability to adapt to difficult conditions and their tenacity under pressure. With this victory, Italy secures their spot in the Nations League quarter-finals with one match to spare, while Belgium’s hopes of qualification fade, increasing the pressure on coach Domenico Tedesco.
