Robert Lewandowski’s power was not enough for Poland, who lost again to Belgium. Photo: EFE / EPA / Andrzej Lange
The UEFA Nations League closed the season on Tuesday with another intense fixture, with important teams and surprising results. Germany dealt another blow to Italy by beating them 5-2, England suffered their worst defeat in 94 years in a 4-0 home defeat to Hungary and Poland, Argentina’s last rival in the group stage of the Qatar 2022, again stumbles with Belgium, tactically the most of South American Europeans.
Against the reigning European champions, Germany achieved a victory that inflated Hansi Flick’s team ahead of the World Cup. Joshua Kimmich (10), Ilkay Gündogan (45 + 4 penalty), Thomas Müller (51) and Timo Werner (68, 69) were the scorers for Mannschaft, which had not yet won in group A3.
“This match was a test for us, after three draws. A win was very important for our confidence.”Flick admitted.
However, this defeat for the Azzurri is not a big surprise. He is part of the reconstruction process of the team led by Roberto Mancini, after the trauma caused by the absence for the second consecutive World Cup and the defeat against Argentina in the Grand Final.
The Azzurra’s goals were scored by Degand Gnonto (78) and Alessandro Bastoni (90 + 4).
“Too bad to finish like this, but they are strong, we knew it. We suffered too many chances in the first half. We let them play too much. We also did some good things despite the result.”said the Italian coach Roberto Mancini.
The 5-2 equals Germany’s biggest victory over Italy, which took place at the Berlin Olympics in 1939.
Even Hungary’s 4-0 in England seemed like a return to history, recalling the legendary 6-3 that the national team led by Ferenc Puskas entrusted to the English at Wembley in 1953.
Midfielder Roland Sallai (16.70), winger Zsolt Nagy (80) and midfielder Daniel Gazdag (89) scored the goals for the Central European side.
You have to go back to a 5-1 defeat to Scotland in 1928 to plot such a lopsided defeat on the Three Lions’ home turf.
England are last in the group with 2 points in four games, behind the Hungarians (7 points), Germany (6 points) and Italy (5 points).
The British may also start worrying about staying in League A when they still have to visit Italy on September 23 and host Germany on September 26.
“It is a night to forget, of course, but we will have to assimilate it and move on. At the end of the day we have to prepare for what will be a great World Cup, this is the main thing. We have learned in this retreat and we will have to learn for the matches in September”said ‘Three Lions’ captain Harry Kane, who smashed a ball into the post on one of the few occasions for locals.
Group A4 seems to have decided a duel between Holland Y Belgium.
The Oranje beat Wales 3-2 with a goal in added time by Memphis Depay from the spot (90 + 3) at 10 points, three more than Belgium, who with a solo goal by Michy Batshuayi (16) took all three points from his visit to Poland.
“As I said in the locker room, we are in League A and we play against big teams and obviously we are sorry we conceded a goal in injury time, but we face the big teams in every match and we just have to polish a few details.”declared after the match Garet Bale.
In September, the Netherlands will visit Poland and Belgium will host Wales on the penultimate matchday, before meeting in a direct duel three days later (on the 25th) on Dutch soil.
“We managed to keep control and we didn’t allow Poland to create too many chances. I’m only sorry that I didn’t score the second goal that would have killed the game earlier. But I’m very happy with my team.”congratulated Belgian coach Roberto Martínez, whose team has scored 48 consecutive games.
The last time Belgium went without a goal was the semifinal of the 2018 World Cup against France (1-0 for the “Bleus”).
This Tuesday at the League of Nations ended a long and grueling football campaign for clubs and national teams in Europe. And for some players, next season is already on the horizon.
Two members of the Andorran starting line-up, which lost 2-1 to Moldova, will start the 2022-23 Champions League in seven days, when champions Inter Club d’Escaldes take part in the preliminary qualifying round.
Elsewhere, Scotland came from behind to crush Armenia 4-1 in nine; Turkey beat Lithuania 2-0, while Ukraine and Ireland drew 1-1.
Source: Clarin
