UEFA Nations League: Italy, Germany and the Netherlands held to frustrating draws
Italy kept hold of top spot in UEFA Nations League Group A3 after keeping England at bay in a lively encounter.
Italy, having named just two of their starters from the XI that began their Matchday 2 fixture against Hungary, carved out the first opportunity three minutes in. Lorenzo Pellegrini’s clever pass dissected the home back-line, but Davide Frattesi side-footed agonisingly wide.
England grew in stature and rattled the frame of the goal shortly afterwards, with Mason Mount curling a first-time effort that Gianluigi Donnarumma was able to tip on to the woodwork.
Roberto Mancini’s men looked a constant threat when attacking down the right flank and that ploy almost paid dividends midway through the first half. Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s low centre picked out Sandro Tonali, but Aaron Ramsdale pulled off a smart stop to repel the strike. Ramsdale also had to be at his best just before the break to tip Matteo Pessina’s looping shot over the bar.
Frattesi fires narrowly wideThe second period began where the first left off, with both Pessina and stand-in home skipper Raheem Sterling firing over from close range shortly after the restart. However, the sides struggled to recreate the intensity of the opening 45 minutes, despite the hosts’ introduction of Harry Kane off the bench just after the hour mark.
Italy substitute Wilfried Gnonto managed to find some space in the England area with 20 minutes remaining, but could only find the side-netting with his powerful shot.
As the game wore on, the visitors appeared satisfied with avoiding defeat, whilst the hosts failed to create a clear-cut opportunity to clinch all three points.
Hungary remained second above Germany in UEFA Nations League Group A3 after Zsolt Nagy and Jonas Hofmann struck early in an absorbing draw in Budapest.
Hungary had stunned Germany with an early goal when these teams met at UEFA EURO 2020, and the hosts needed only six minutes to go ahead in Budapest, Nagy rifling ruthlessly beyond Manuel Neuer after the goalkeeper had beaten Roland Sallai’s header into his path.
An open, attacking start from both sides invited ambition in the middle of the pitch. When Nico Schlotterbeck’s perceptive pass found Hofmann inside the penalty area, the Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder beat the advancing Péter Gulácsi to the delivery, poked the ball past the goalkeeper and calmly slotted in to ensure Germany’s deficit was wiped out within four minutes.
Neuer produced an improvised save to thwart adventurous full-back Attila Fiola’s strike shortly before the break, but the second half offered far less action in either penalty area. Hofmann could not locate Timo Werner with the Hungary goal gaping, and substitute Martin Ádám directed a close-range header in to Neuer’s arms.
Germany’s No1 was forced to tip Dániel Gazdag’s drive from distance over his crossbar in the closing stages and ensure the visitors’ dominance in possession was rewarded with a point.
Hungary remain second in the section, a point above Die Mannschaft and one behind leaders Italy.
The Netherlands missed their chance to make it three wins out of three in UEFA Nations League Group A4 as Memphis Depay hit the post with a late penalty after his side had fought back from two behind.
The Netherlands made a bright start, but fell behind against the run of play when Nicola Zalewski switched the play from left to right, where Matty Cash picked up the ball, drove into the area and shot past Mark Flekken.
The visitors held out for the rest of the half and then stunned their hosts a second time when Przemysław Frankowski beat the offside trap and teed up Piotr Zieliński to score.
Davy Klaassen quickly reduced the arrears with a smart close-range finish, before Denzel Dumfries levelled with a deflected effort three minutes later.
There was late drama to come though as Łukasz Skorupski denied Depay from close range, with Cash then adjudged to have handled the rebound.
However, Depay hit the post from the spot, before the keeper made a stunning late stop to deny him once more.
