Roberto Mancini Federico Dimarco Gianluigi Donnarumma Bryan Cristante Giacomo Raspadori Wilfried Gnonto France Croatia Netherlands Spain Portugal Italy Hungary Budapest Football Roberto Mancini Federico Dimarco Gianluigi Donnarumma Bryan Cristante Giacomo Raspadori Wilfried Gnonto France Croatia Netherlands Spain Portugal Italy Hungary Budapest

Nations League: Italy Beat Hungary For Consolation Of Final Four

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Italy, who will miss a second consecutive World Cup, again found consolation in Europe as they won 2-0 in Budapest on Monday to edge Hungary for first place in their Nations League group.

Giacomo Raspadori, who scored the winner against England on Friday, poked the ball home after Wilfried Gnonto had pounced on a poor Hungarian back pass to give Italy the lead in the 27th minute. "We needed these matches to restore enthusiasm, even if the World Cup remains an open wound and we can not go back," said Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. "We have to start again, we have to do it for all of Italy." Hungary, who started the final round of games top of Group A3, fought hard but Donnarumma made two miraculous saves in quick succession in the 50th minute from Loic Nego and Adam Szalai.

Two minutes later, Federico Dimarco met a Bryan Cristante cross at the back post to smash in his first international goal and Italy's 1,500th.

Donnarumma produced another outstanding to keep out a header from Callum Styles (55th). Italy held on to follow the Netherlands and Croatia into the Nations League final four scheduled for June 2023. "We were excellent for 70 minutes, the last 20 I didn't like too much," said Italy coach Roberto Mancini. "We're happy, it's important to have reached the Nations League final four for the second time." Spain or Portugal meet on Tuesday to decide the last ticket for a chance to succeed France as champion.

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Goals from Giacomo Raspadori and Federico Dimarco secured Italy a 2-0 win away to Hungary on Monday and a place in the Nations League semi-finals.
Giacomo Raspadori, who scored the winner against England on Friday, poked the ball home after Wilfried Gnonto had pounced on a poor Hungarian back pass to give Italy the lead in the 27th minute.
Italy clinched a place in the Nations League final four with a 2-0 win away against Hungary thanks to goals by Giacomo Raspadori and Federico Dimarco in their last League A-Group 3 game on Monday.
England and Germany drew 3-3 at Wembley on Monday as the hosts surged back from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 only for Kai Havertz to level with his second goal as the battle of the Nations League's Group A3 also-rans exploded into a memorable goalfest.
Part one of the healing process is complete for Italy. Looking to regain respect after failing to qualify for a second straight World Cup, the Azzurri advanced to next year’s finals tournament in the Nations League by winning at Hungary 2-0 thanks to goals by Giacomo Raspadori and Federico Dimarco on Monday. By topping a group also containing England and Germany, the Italians joined the Netherlands and Croatia in qualifying for the final four, which will be hosted by the Dutch in June. Portugal or Spain will complete the lineup when they face off on Tuesday. Unlike Italy, England and Germany will be going to the World Cup in Qatar in less than two months and they’ll head to the Middle East on the back of a wild 3-3 draw at Wembley Stadium, where all the goals were scored in the second half. Trailing 2-0, England scored three goals in a 12-minute span from the 71st — through Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Harry Kane’s penalty — only for Kai Havertz to pounce on a fumble by England goalkeeper Nick Pope to equalize in the 87th. England’s winless run stretched to six games, with Gareth Southgate’s team finishing its Nations League campaign without a victory and relegated. Germany isn’t in much better shape ahead of the World Cup, with just one win in its last seven games. Italy won Group A3 with 11 points, one more than Hungary, which went into the game in Budapest needing only a draw to reach the Nations League final four for the first time.

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