News (engl.)

Germany have reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League for the first time. Following their first-leg victory in Milan, Germany drew 3-3 with Italy in the second leg in front of 64,762 spectators in Dortmund. Their semi-final match against Portugal will be played in Munich on 4th June. The final will also take place in the Bavarian city four days later.

As he had done in the first leg, head coach Julian Nagelsmann picked Oliver Baumann in goal. Jonathan Tah, Antonio Rüdiger and Nico Schlotterbeck made up the back three. Angelo Stiller and Leon Goretzka started in midfield, while captain Joshua Kimmich (right) and Maximilian Mittelstädt (left) operated on the flanks. Leroy Sané and Jamal Musiala formed the front three with striker Tim Kleindienst.

Kimmich sets Germany on their way

Neither side needed time to settle into the game, and both started with a high tempo. Germany threatened Italy’s goal for the first time with a Goretzka shot from around 17 yards out (2’). The visitors had their first chance two minutes later, when Giovanni Di Lorenzo fired a cross into the box, but Tah acrobatically cleared it away from goal. The ball changed hands regularly from the start, and it immediately developed into a hard-fought encounter with countless duels and plenty of attacking intent.

In the 15th minute, a Kimmich corner caused chaos in the Italian box. Visiting goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was unable to punch away his delivery, which allowed Kleindienst, Tah and Rüdiger to get to the ball. However, none of them could force it over the line. This was followed by a phase of pressure from Germany, who pressed high and dominated possession.

The hosts launched wave after wave of attacks, and eventually got their reward. After a quick passing move, Goretzka played it through to Kleindienst on the right of the penalty area. The striker got to the ball, but was fouled by Italy defender Alessandro Buongiorno, leaving the Polish referee Marciniak with no other option but to point to the spot. Captain Kimmich took on the responsibility, and calmly slotted the penalty into the bottom left-hand corner (30’).

Germany on top in the first half

Germany were not in the mood to give the visitors any breathing space, and won the ball back almost immediately from kick-off. Mittelstädt got to the byline and lifted a cross onto the head of Goretzka, who nodded just over the bar (32’). A few minutes later, Rüdiger got himself forward and crossed from the right towards Kleindienst, who expertly directed a header towards the top-right corner from around 11 yards out. Donnarumma though produced a world-class save to tip the ball over the bar for a corner.

While Italy were setting up in the penalty area, Kimmich took the corner short and gave the ball to Musiala, who was free to turn it into an empty net from close range (36’). Just before the half-time whistle, Schlotterbeck won the ball back, and it eventually found its way to Kimmich on the right. He had plenty of space and time to clip the ball into Kleindienst, who headed home (45’).

Italy improve in the second half

Nagelsmann sent his team out for the second half unchanged. The Squadra Azzurra started the second period the better, and scored almost immediately. Sané played a loose pass towards Kimmich, which allowed Moise Kean to get to the ball. The Italy striker ran through on Baumann’s goal before coolly slotting into the bottom left-hand corner (49’). Germany struggled to regain their dominance in the first few minutes after half time. Mittelstädt shot straight at Donnarumma from around 11 yards out on the turn (55’).

Nagelsmann made three changes just after the hour mark. Nadiem Amiri and Pascal Groß replaced central midfielders Stiller and Goretzka, while Karim Adeyemi came on for Leroy Sané (63’).

Germany though were still unable to free themselves from the Italian pressure. Kean then worked himself some space in the penalty area and curled the ball into the far corner to cut the deficit further (69’). The Squadra Azzurra nearly had the chance to equalise immediately after when they were awarded a penalty, but VAR overturned the decision (74’).

Italy equalise but Germany progress

Nagelsmann sent on Robert Andrich and debutant Yann-Aurel Bisseck in place of Musiala and Rüdiger for the closing stages (77’). Schlotterbeck then dribbled into the penalty area and won a free kick on the edge of the box, which Kimmich struck low past the wall, but it was saved by Donnarumma (82’). Kleindienst and Groß could have put any lingering doubts to bed with a counterattack, but Kleindienst was just missing that bit of energy (90+3’).

Instead, the referee suddenly went over to the VAR screen and awarded a penalty to Italy for a handball by Mittelstädt following an earlier corner. Giacomo Raspadori converted and Italy had a late equaliser (90+5’). There was only one minute left on the clock though, and Germany survived without the opponents recording another shot.