Italy secured a 2-1 victory over Israel at a neutral venue in Budapest, taking the lead in their Nations League group with a perfect score. Due to security concerns, the match was moved to Hungary, where a significant Israeli community resides and where the Hungarian Football Federation assured safety and the absence of protests and Palestinian flags in the stadium.
Despite these assurances, approximately 50 Italian fans present at the semi-empty stadium drew attention to the Palestinian issue. As the Israeli national anthem played, they turned their backs on the field in protest. The stadium’s speaker attempted to rally the roughly 2,000 Israeli fans with cheers, but this effort was quickly stifled by the Italian delegation’s official protest.
The match itself was characterized by a clear technical disparity between the two teams, with Italy’s dominance evident throughout. The final score of 2-1, including a late goal from Israel in the 90th minute, did not reflect the one-sided nature of the game. Italy’s goals came from Frattesi in the first half and Kean in the second, securing the win and protecting the team from a potential late upset.
At the end of the match, Italy’s coach, Luciano Spalletti, expressed satisfaction with the performance. The ongoing process of renewing and rejuvenating the national team is progressing well, according to Spalletti.
