What a game against Italy: Germany trembles into the final Four of the Nations League in a wild game. Two national players tower over. The individual criticism.
Benjamin Zurmühl reports from Dortmund
It was a wild Sunday evening in the Signal Iduna Park of Dortmund. And the German national team went through a real roller coaster ride in the 3: 3 in the second leg of the Nations League against Italy.
Because after an intoxicating first half it was already 3-0 for the eleven of national coach Julian Nagelsmann, according to the national coach it was “the best we have played so far”. The final four of the Nations League already seemed safe in combination with the 2-1 win from the first leg. But the “Squadra Azzurra”, as Italy’s selection is also called, started a catch -up hunting after the change of sides. In the end, it was much shorter for Germany than after the first 45 minutes.
“The knowledge from both games is world class and great for our development,” said Nagelsmann after the game at RTL. “We know that we are catching up and how well we can play football – but also that we have to show it over the whole game.” Even more: “The Final Four was the goal, it felt like it was a little victory. I go home with the knowledge that we know what we can do. It is also nice that we still have to do something.”
The Nations League final will take place in the MHP-Arena in Stuttgart and the Munich Allianz Arena from June 4th to 8th. European champion Spain and France are doing the second duel.