Italy seek Nations League consistency as Germany continue rebuild
Updated
Oct 09, 2024, 11:10 PM
Published
Oct 09, 2024, 11:55 AM
PARIS – Italy will attempt to back up their strong start to the Nations League after a disastrous Euro 2024 campaign, while a rebuilding Germany are without several key players due to injury.
Luciano Spalletti’s Italy crashed out in the last 16 at the European Championship in a dire defence of their title, but the Azzurri responded to that failure by winning in France and beating Israel to begin the Nations League in September.
On Oct 10, the Italians return home to take on a Belgium side missing midfielder Kevin de Bruyne and striker Romelu Lukaku, who both asked to be omitted for this international window.
“He was transferred very late to Napoli,” Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco, who was born in Italy, said of Lukaku’s move in August.
“Now even if he’s playing, he’s not feeling at a top level, so he asked for this camp at least to work individually in Naples.”
But Spalletti still expects a stiff challenge from Belgium, who also disappointed in Germany this summer and exited in the first knockout round.
“Belgium are a good test, a strong team,” the Italian said.
“A good team that plays good football. It could be tough, and I want to see the confidence (from my side), a team that works well together, like it showed in September.”
After that game in Rome, Italy will move north to Udine for the visit of Israel, who are without a point in Group A2 and unable to play at home due to the security situation in the Middle East.
Israel will first play France on neutral ground in Budapest as Les Bleus begin life without Antoine Griezmann. The 33-year-old Atletico Madrid forward retired from international duty on Sept 30.
Griezmann’s decision to quit is further confirmation that an era has come to an end for the French side who won the 2018 World Cup and reached the final four years later in Qatar.
“I think everyone would have preferred to know during the last gathering (in September) for a proper farewell,” said France defender Ibrahima Konate.
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, 37, defender Raphael Varane, 31, and striker Olivier Giroud, 38, have all since moved on too, while captain Kylian Mbappe will not be risked against Israel or Belgium after a recent thigh problem.
Germany have been hit by a raft of withdrawals ahead of matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Netherlands.
Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is set to miss the rest of the season after rupturing a knee tendon and will be replaced by the uncapped Oliver Baumann, Hoffenheim’s 34-year-old captain.
Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala are also sidelined and Niclas Fullkrug is still plagued by a calf strain.
Germany and the Netherlands drew 2-2 in Amsterdam in September.
Both teams sit on four points in Group A3, which also includes Hungary.
European champions Spain host Group A4 leaders Denmark and Serbia, while Portugal hope to extend their perfect record in Group A1 as they travel to Poland and Scotland.
England take on Greece at Wembley in a clash of the top two in Group B2 on Oct 10 before heading to Helsinki to face Finland three days later.
Captain Harry Kane has received the all-clear from England’s medical staff after going off in Bayern Munich’s 3-3 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt on Oct 6.
Georgia, who impressed on their major tournament debut at the Euro, play Ukraine in Poland and then host Albania after winning their opening two fixtures in Group B1.
Erling Haaland is set to captain Norway for their games with Slovenia and Austria, with Martin Odegaard not yet ready to return from an ankle issue sustained while playing for his country in September.
Haaland, the English Premier League’s top scorer with 10 goals this term, will go up against Slovenia’s RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, who leads all players so far with four goals in two Nations League matches. AFP
