The German national soccer team did not go beyond 1-1 (0-0) at the Nations League opener in Italy. National coach Hansi Flick was dissatisfied with RTL afterwards and the German media landscape also struggled with the performance of the DFB selection. In Italy, on the other hand, the relief after the 0:3 against Argentina is great, the celebrated hero is the 18-year-old debutant Wilfried Gnonto. The press reviews:
RTL: “DFB draw in the classic against Italy! Kimmich answers Pellegrini! Germany remains unbeaten under Flick. The selection of the German Football Association (DFB) came in Bologna against European champions Italy at the start of the Nations League to a 1-1 ( 0-0).”
kicker: “Kimmich’s quick answer: Germany played 1-1 in Italy at the start of the Nations League. The initially dominant DFB selection fell behind in the second round, but found the quick answer.”
Image: “Even Flick isn’t beating the big ones yet! Germany just isn’t warming up with the Nations League! At the start of the new season, it was 28 degrees in Bologna and it was a 1-1 draw against Italy. After the meager results in 2018/19 (two points from four games) and 2020/21 (two wins from six games) so again no win at the start.”
ntv: “Driver Kimmich saves a faulty DFB team. The Nations League starts for the German national soccer team with the game against Italy. The European champions, who will miss the World Cup, take the lead, but then Joshua Kimmich is there promptly. That Team is still undefeated under coach Hansi Flick – but there is a lot of work to do.”
Spiegel online: “Flick’s small FC Bayern is not running smoothly yet. National coach Hansi Flick is looking for the right mix for the national team, but the Bayern block that Flick relies on harbors risks. Joshua Kimmich is almost everywhere – and is missing one position maybe.”
Süddeutsche Zeitung: “Went well again. In the second real endurance test, Hansi Flick’s team played 1-1 again. Joshua Kimmich managed to equalize against Italy and thus prevented the first defeat under the new national coach Hansi Flick.”
FAZ: “Germany is not yet in World Cup form. The newly formed Squadra Azzurra is giving the DFB team a real endurance test. After falling behind, the German team finds the right answer – but makes too many mistakes overall.”
Gazzetta dello Sport: “Gnonto with a dream debut: Mancini finds Italy again, but Kimmich saves the Germans. There is no official game in which Germany can beat Italy. World Championships, European Championships, now the Nations League. We are their curse. That was too necessary after the setback at Wembley.A 1-1 that gives Mancini some breathing space and brightens the horizon.Nothing special, the problems all remain, maybe the Germans underestimated the effort a bit, maybe Argentina cheated them: but in the end they did Italy played better and earned more.”
Corriere dello Sport: “1-1 – Kimmich responds to Pellegrini, Mancini restarts. The newly formed Squadra Azzurra starts with a convincing draw. Donnarumma’s saves and the vitality of debutant Gnonto, who prepared the goal to take the lead, were decisive. “
Il Messaggero: “Pellegrini inspires young Italy: draw against Germany, what a debut from Gnonto. With youthful courage, Italy faced a Germany that is certainly one step further in its ‘reconstruction’ and avoided it, unlike on Wednesday in London against Argentina to show an ugly face again.”
La Repubblica: “The Azzurri convince against Germany in Bologna. Not a bad start by Mancini in the Nations League.”
La Stampa: “The new elixir of life and Mancini’s smile. Everything moves fast in football. In three days, from the splendor at Wembley Stadium in London to a Squadra Azzurra with debutants. With the exception of Donnarumma, ten out of ten players were substituted. But the Azzurri cut a good figure, also thanks to a mediocre Germany. And they also drew future prospects from the lifeblood of debutant Gnonto.”