Italy forced Germany to a 1-1 draw as they began their Nations League and also a rebuilding of their team. The team who failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup in Qatar, and also the recent trophy which was competed by the winners of Copa America and European League as they lost to Argentina 3-0. Italy opted to test out numerous raw players and it turned out to work for them as they played 1-1 with a strong formidable side Germany.
One of the players is an 18-year-old substitute Wilfried Gnonto, the teenager set up Lorenzo Pellegrini for a 70th-minute goal which was the opening goal of the game before Germany restored the scores to 1-1. The Germans leveled immediately, with Joshua Kimmich firing in to make it 10 games unbeaten under Hansi Flick. Germany’s next game in Group A3 will be at home with England, who were beaten 1-0 in Hungary earlier on Saturday. Italy will host the Hungarians, with both games on the 7th of this month June.
It has been a chastening few months for European champions Italy but, from the wreckage of their shock failure to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar later this year, green shoots are beginning to break through. The side fielded against Germany was shorn of almost all the names recognizable to the majority of fans outside Italy, with 23-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma the most experienced player with 44 caps.