Italy, missing out on the World Cup for the second time in a row, found consolation again in Europe with a 2-0 victory in Budapest on Monday to beat Hungary to top the Nations League group.
Giacomo Raspadori, who scored the winning goal against England on Friday, threw the ball home in the 27th minute after Wilfried Gnonto threw his pass to Hungary’s poor back to give Italy the lead.
Italy’s Donnarumma in this regard
“We needed these matches to restore enthusiasm, even if the World Cup remains an open wound and we can not go back,” stated the Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
“We have to start again, we have to do it for all of Italy.”
Hungary, who started the final round at the top of Group A3, had a hard-fought battle, but Donnarumma made two excellent saves in the 50th minute against Loic Nego and Adam Szalai.
Two minutes later, Federico Dimarco scored his first goal for Italy, scoring 1,500 with a Bryan Cristante cross at the back post.
Donnarumma again put in a great play, parrying Callum’s Styles header (55th). Italy has advanced to the Nations
League Final Four, scheduled for June 2023, after Netherlands and Croatia.
Mancini in this regard
Coach Roberto Mancini stated, “We were excellent for 70 minutes, the last 20 I didn’t like too much. We’re happy, it’s important to have reached the Nations League final four for the second time.”
Spain or Portugal will face each other on Tuesday to determine the last ticket for a chance to replace France as champions.
Italy, who hit rock bottom in March less than a year after the Euro 2020 title, failed to qualify for the World Cup. The Hungarian surprise was reminiscent of some of his Magic Magyar feats of the 1950s.
They recorded their first competitive win against Germany in 1954 and England’s first away win since 1954, but since 1955 they have yet to beat Italy.
The defeat also ended the international career of Hungarian captain Adam Szalai, who announced he would retire from international football at the age of 34 and was applauded when he was substituted 75 minutes later.
