Discover how Frattesi and Kean propelled Italy to a vital 2-1 victory over Israel, showcasing their exceptional skills and teamwork in this thrilling match. Read the match highlights and key moments.
Introduction:
The match between Italy and Israel in the UEFA Nations League was an onslaught of attacks, with Luciano Spalletti’s resolute side conjuring magic after magic. Definitely not one of those easy wins, the Azzurri came out with three important points courtesy of goals from Moise Kean and Davide Frattesi. Let’s have an in-depth look at what made this match a riveting affair and how Italy managed to keep its perfect record intact in Group A.
An Essential Italy Win
Italy went into this match with much promise. Since their incredible 3-1 win against France, the entire world looked at Spalletti’s side to see whether the momentum would hold up. Spoiler alert: they did. But in retrospect, everything wasn’t exactly smooth-sailing for Italy, as Israel really put them through their paces, most especially in the dying minutes of the match.
See also: Dembele and Kolo Muani Lead France to a 2-0 Win Against Belgium
Frattesi is a Doubtless Standout
Undoubtedly, the undisputed protagonist of the match was Davide Frattesi, who opened the score and played a great game from the beginning until the end. In the late stage of the first half, Frattesi saw the ball for his goal coming from a well-timed pass by Federico Dimarco; he coolly slotted it into the bottom corner.
See also: Brighton Faced a Frustrating 0-0 Draw Against Ipswich
But the goal wasn’t the only thing impressive about the Italian midfielder’s performance; his energy was relentless, his passing sharp as knives. He was a crucial figure in breaking the Israel defence, making him one of the most valuable players on the pitch.
Kean Doubles Italy’s Lead
The second Italian goal, barely after the hour mark, was thanks to a rebound and fell to another of the Azzurri’s young stars, Moise Kean. The shot by Giacomo Raspadori was saved by the Israeli goalkeeper Yoav Gerafi, but Kean quickly reached the ball and smashed it into the net with his first touch.
This goal gave Italy the breathing space they needed, and they started setting the tempo of the game. For Kean, this was another step in his journey to become one of the important elements in Spalletti’s Italy.
A Nervy Finish as Israel Fights Back
With the score now standing at 2-0, Italy must have thought that it was all over, but Israel had other ideas. In the 90th minute, a well-placed shot from the edge of the box after Mohammed Abu Fani had won a free kick gave Israel a glimmer of hope. That gave them a tense ending to the game as Israel pushed for the equalizer, but Italy’s defense stood firm.
This late goal underlined Israel’s determination and ability to make a fight at the top, even though it was their first-ever game in League A of the Nations League.
How Italy’s Defense Stood Firm
Italy’s defense was under siege in the final stages of the game, with Abu Fani’s goal having gone in. Despite this, the likes of Alessandro Bastoni and Giovanni Di Lorenzo showed their experience and coolness to see out the game.
While Israel enjoyed fair possession, Italy’s backline kept the Israeli forwards from clear-cut chances of drawing level. The Azzurri had a good, if not excellent, defensive display.
Spalletti’s tactical adjustments: A Balancing Act
Luciano Spalletti began with five changes from the lineup that won against France as he once again demonstrated flexibility in tactics and a good depth of his bench. Giacomo Raspadori and Moise Kean started in attack as Lorenzo Pellegrini and Mateo Retegui went to the bench, while Riccardo Calafiori was unfit with a calf injury.
And sure enough, Spalletti’s rotation worked out: both Frattesi and Kean netted. But the changes did somewhat make Italy lack cohesion as a whole, the Azzurri not looking quite as dominant as they were against France.
Israel’s Resilient Effort
This was always going to be a game of survival for Israel, especially after the defeat to Belgium by three goals to one. However, they came into this tournament with great resilience and heart, never giving up-even against such an experienced Italian side.
Promotion to League A of the Nations League showed how much the team had grown, although it fell short against Italy, and there was absolutely nothing disappointing about the performance of the team. The late goal that Abu Fani scored was an indication that they do belong in this category; from this performance in the match, it can be stated that something can be built on in the future.
The Importance of Playing in Budapest
The game was forced to be staged in Budapest, Hungary, as security concerns beset Israel. The neutral venue was another added layer of complexity to the game for both teams. Fewer fans were in this stadium to cheer them on, although Israel put on a fine performance amidst such conditions.
This fact bears witness that Israel has a good performance in foreign soil and their potential against a European powerhouse like Italy.
Frattesi and Kean – The Dynamic Duo
This victory saw Italy fly to the top of Group A with six points, continuing their perfect start into the Nations League campaign. The Azzurri are on a mission under Spalletti, who replaced the head coach in August 2023. It is a surefire sign that Italy means business once again, after its victory over France.
However, Italy do need to work out some of the vulnerabilities that came forth in this game, particularly in defense. Although they won the game, it was the late goal by Israel that just reminded them that they still have a lot to work on.
Next for Italy and Israel:
Italy’s next challenge in the Nations League will be just as critical, with the Azzurri searching for a continued unbeaten run. This Spalletti team will need to keep that form going if they wish to advance very far in this tournament.
As for Israel, they would like to move on and leave this result in the past to carry on with their next matches. This is a new beginning, their first-ever match in League A, and they will want to grow to prove that they belong at this level.
Final Thoughts
A 2-1 win over Israel, Italy certainly had to battle, and this win once again reflected both the strengths and weaknesses of the side as Frattesi and Kean delivered the goods in attack, while at the back, they were certainly shaky at times, especially in the closing stages. Italy remains atop Group A and heads into their next match full of confidence.
Israel, for their part, have nothing to be ashamed of. They had the quality to consider themselves at this level, especially in the second half. With a bit more experience, they will surely become much harder to play against.