Italy finish this year’s Nations League tournament in third place. Because Belgium simply didn’t have any aluminium luck in the European champions’ 2:1.
“Finishing third in the Nations League is meaningless,” was the rant of Belgium goalkeeper Courtois during the week, who was one of the regulars not rotated out of the starting eleven in the match for third place. Even in their 1b line-up, however, the Belgians and European champions Italy engaged in a lively exchange of blows early on.
Chiesa quickly fired two shots (2nd, 3rd) and was no less conspicuous in the following, Lukaku substitute Batshuayi knocked on the opposite side (7th) in the rematch of the European Championship quarter-final (2-1 for Italy). After the opening minutes, both teams hardly let each other get near the penalty area for a while before the attacking side asserted itself again.
Saelemaekers aims too accurately – Courtois strong as a bear
The European champions created more danger most of the time, but Berardi (18th) and Raspadori (21st) were unable to find the opening goal. The best chance of the first period came a little later, unexpectedly, from Belgium’s Saelemaekers, who hit the crossbar from 13 metres (25). The Azzurri also had their best chance in the first period, but Courtois made a brilliant save against Chiesa (45).
Less than a minute had passed since the interval when the Real Madrid backstop finally had to make a save: Italy had started brilliantly once again and Tielemans had done a poor job of deflecting a corner. Barella was waiting on the edge of the penalty area, and he volleyed the ball into the bottom left-hand corner (46th minute).
Belgium continue to have bad luck, Berardi a bit of luck
The opening goal was perfectly justified and Mancini’s side even sniffed at a double. But they made the wrong decisions in the final third – and suddenly the crossbar trembled again behind Donnarumma (Batshuayi, 60.). The Belgians, who had hardly been active offensively before, were just about to come back when Castagne was too late against Chiesa in his own penalty area – Berardi converted the penalty, even though Courtois was still on the ball with one hand (65.).
The 2:0 meant the preliminary decision, despite the substitution of De Bruyne (Lukaku and Hazard were missing due to injury). The most dangerous Belgian on the way to catching up was defender Alderweireld, who demanded two saves from Donnarumma (69th, 77th), but the Azzurri, who actively managed the game, allowed the Red Devils to keep switching moments. After Carrasco had scored another goal from the box (82nd), De Ketelaere found himself free in front of Donnarumma on the counter-attack, whom he easily tunneled through (86th).
The World Cup bronze medallists were unable to score more than 2:1, but the Italians also survived four minutes of injury time. They will continue their World Cup qualifying campaign on 12 November (8.45 p.m.) at home to Switzerland, while Belgium will host Estonia at the same time the following day.
