Italy and Germany Take Their Historic Rivalry to the UEFA Nations League
When we mention Italy and Germany, we are referring to a long and storied history of rivalry between two of Europe’s greatest national teams.
Here, we talk about eight shared World Cup titles and unforgettable encounters, such as their clash in the 1970 World Cup semifinals and their encounter in the 2006 World Cup semifinals in Germany, not to mention their fierce battles at the continental level.
This time, the showdown will take place in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals, with the first leg set to be hosted at San Siro stadium in Milan on Thursday evening.
The odds seem evenly matched, as the Azzurri have always been a thorn in the Mannschaft’s side, having won 15 times against Germany’s 10 victories and 12 draws in their 37 encounters.
Indeed, the odds look equal, considering that Italy advanced with the same number of points as group leaders France, while Germany remained unbeaten in the group stage with the best offensive record.
However, this encounter carries even greater significance, as the winner over the two legs will earn the right to host the semifinals and final of the tournament, which follows a centralized format.
Germany will host their rivals on Sunday in the second leg at the “Westfalenstadion” stadium in Dortmund, and the winner will face the winner of the Denmark vs. Portugal match—Portugal being the inaugural winners of the tournament in 2019—on June 4 or 5, with the final set for June 8.
This will be the first encounter between the German and Italian national teams since their thrilling seven-goal clash in 2022, which saw Germany emerge victorious 5-2 in the same competition.
Thus, Italy will be seeking revenge while also aiming to restore their former aura, having failed to defend their European Championship title. The Azzurri had a strong start in their Nations League group with a 3-1 away victory over France but suffered an identical defeat against them in the final group match in Milan.
After securing four wins in five matches before their loss to France, Luciano Spalletti’s squad has benefited from a tactical shift and a new selection approach by the coach, which boosts their chances of claiming their first-ever UEFA Nations League title.
Spalletti hopes to avoid a repeat of the 2022 Nations League scenario when Italy drew 1-1 at home against Germany before suffering a heavy 5-2 defeat just days later. That painful memory lingers for the Azzurri, who are well aware of the Germans’ strength, especially after their dominant performances in the group stage, including a resounding 7-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Germany, meanwhile, has not lost in six matches since their defeat to Spain—who went on to win Euro 2024. Under young coach Julian Nagelsmann, the team finished the group stage with four wins and two draws, finishing five points ahead of their closest rivals, the Netherlands.
Germany averaged three goals per match in the group stage, and with Nagelsmann entering his 20th match as national team coach, he is fully confident in achieving the objective and building on their recent success. After reaching the knockout stage of the Nations League for the first time, Germany will undoubtedly be aiming for the title to boost their confidence ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
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