After a resolute 1-0 triumph over Belgium in Brussels on Thursday night, Italy has progressed to the quarterfinals of the Nations League. This is with Sandro Tonali making a stunning return to international duty by netting the all-important goal.
The Newcastle United midfielder opened the scoring in the 10th minute. This marks his first goal for the Azzurri. This moment is especially touching as it comes on the heels of a lengthy 10-month suspension that started in October of the previous year because of his engagement in football betting activities linked to matches involving his former side, AC Milan. During Italy’s European Championship campaign in Germany, this absence kept him off the pitch.
Giving them a crucial three-point lead over France, this victory moves Italy to the top of Group A2. The two powerhouse nations will face off at the iconic San Siro in their next encounter. It is a match that will ultimately determine the group leader. Now, Italy needs just a draw from either their clash with Belgium or the upcoming showdown against France to ensure their place in the knockout round.
Under the management of Domenico Tedesco, Belgium struggled to convert opportunities in spite of making a lot of promising chances. Captain Romelu Lukaku was making his first international appearance since the European Championships. He wasted a vital opportunity in the 78th minute, which could have changed the outcome of the match. The best chance for the hosts came from Wout Faes, whose header rattled the post with just seven minutes left on the clock.
Led by Luciano Spalletti, Italy has shown marked improvement throughout this Nations League campaign. It remains unbeaten since their exit from the European Championship at the hands of Switzerland in the round of 16.
