Bayern Munich contingent stars for Germany against European champions Italy
Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Müller were among the goals, while substitute Serge Gnabry produced two assists as Germany thrashed Italy 5-2 in UEFA Nations League Group A3 to maintain their unbeaten run under Hansi Flick.
Reinstated as one of five changes to the team that drew 1-1 in Hungary, Leroy Sane flashed an early strike narrowly wide from 18 yards. Italy responded in kind, but Manuel Neuer was on hand to thwart Giacomo Raspadori with a fabulous point-blank save. Germany broke the deadlock with the next attack as Kimmich swept through the legs of Donnarumma following a wonderful passing move. Antonio Rüdiger and Jonas Hofmann shot wide for a purposeful Germany, before Donnarumma thwarted Sane and Werner in quick succession. Ilkay Gündogan did find a way past the Italy captain, though, converting from the penalty spot after Alessandro Bastoni had upended the effervescent Hofmann in the box.
Italy came out fighting as Bryan Cristante fired in a couple of warning shots and substitute Giorgio Scalvini headed a corner wide, but were floored again in the 51st minute. Raum's cross deflected off Leonardo Spinazzola, with Müller hitting the loose ball into the ground and beyond Donnarumma for 3-0. Neuer pulled off an otherwordly goal-line save from Nico Barella, before substitute Gnabry set up quick-fire goals for Timo Werner to put the contest to bed. Wilfried Gnonto and Bastoni did pull a couple of goals back for the Italians, but they were nothing more than consolatory strikes against a rampant Germany, who climb to second in the group.
Match stats
Germany are unbeaten in 13 matches under Flick, winning nine.
Müller has 44 goals in 116 Germany appearances. He's now seventh in the country's list of all-time top scorers, level with Uwe Seeler.
Gnabry has 20 goals and eight assists to show for his first 34 Germany appearances.
Kimmich scored his fifth senior international goal.
UEFA European Championship Matchday 4 Matchday 4 Borussia-Park
90'
+ 4
DOMINANT GERMANY
Germany run out comfortable winners to go second in Group A3, a point behind Hungary, with two games to go. For the most part, a hugely encouraging display by Die Mannschaft, who are now unbeaten in 13 matches under Flick.
Full-time
90'
+ 4
CONSOLATION
Bastoni heads in Dimarco's corner, but it's all academic.
A rare mistake by Neuer as he spills a shot from Dimarco into the patch of Gnonto, who puts away his first senior international goal. He's human, after all...
The result in the bag, Flick sends on Nmecha and Musiala. Despite Werner's brace, the central striker's position is very much up for grabs in this team. The same is true of the left-sided attacking role...
Instant impact from Gnabry as he latches onto Müller's dinked pass and selflessly squares for Werner to tuck home from close range. The Bayernman then telegraphs a Donnarumma clearance, before setting up Timo Werner for another routine strike. Germany lead Italy 5-0!
Hofmann is applauded from the field on his home ground. The Gladbach man has been excellent yet again up and down the Germany right. Barring injury, it's hard to see him not in the starting XI at the winter World Cup in Qatar
Germany show no let-up as Werner makes Donnarumma work with an effort from inside the box. This is turning into a chastening experience for the European champions...
54'
GOAT!
Neuer pulls off one of the best saves you're ever likely to see. He dives to his left as a shot comes in from 20 yards, but deflects towards Nicolo Barella, who's over to the Germany keeper's right and only a few yards out. It looks like being a certain goal as the Italian turns the ball goalwards, only for Neuer to contort his body and scoop off the line. The man's 36!!!
51'
GERMANY ADD A THIRD!
Clinical from Flick's side. Gündogan releases Raum, who sends over a teasing left-wing cross that deflects off Spinazzola. Müller swings a boot at the loose ball, hitting a volley into the ground and beyond Donnarumma's reach.
Much better fromItaly since the restart. Cristante has sent a couple of shots over from range, while Scalvini has just headed powerfully wide from a corner. Wake-up, Germany!
Strong stuff from Germany, who take a deserved 2-0 lead into the break. Hofmann's been a real nuisance, and it might have been more but for Donnarumma.
Half-time
45'
+ 2
GOAL!!!!!
Ilkay Gündogan tucks away his spot-kick to double Germany's lead!
45'
+ 1
PENALTY!
Bastoni brings down Hofmann in the box, and the referee points to the spot...
44'
TACTICAL SWITCH
Mancini's changed to a back three with that switch, proof enough that Germany are in charge as we approach three minutes of added time.
Two chances in quick succession for Germany. First Müller tees up Sane in the box, but the Bayern man doesn't make the best connection with his shot and Donnarumma is able to save. Sane turns provider for Werner moments later, with the gigantic frame of Italy's No.1 once again preventing a second Germany goal.
37'
LASER-GUIDED PASSING GAME
Hofmann attacks Raum's left-wing cross, but Spinazzola beats him to it at the far post. A long pass from Süle instigated that move, and is clearly something Germany have been working on.
32'
CHANCE!
Another diagonal ball catches out Italy. Werner collects Klostermann's pass, via Sane's flicked header, and finds the in-form Hofmann, whose low drive forces a finger-tip save from Donnarumma. Almost a very nice goal indeed!
29'
TALE OF THE TAPE
Germany have enjoyed 65 percent possesion, whilst finding a man with 90 percent of their attempted passes. Crucially, they have the lead through Kimmich's fifth senior international goal.
22'
HALF CHANCE
Cristante connects with a Raspadori free-kick, but doesn't find the target. Germany afforded him a touch too much space there - that will have irked Flick after such a commanding start by his team.
18'
ELSEWHERE
Freiburg's Roland Sallai has given Hungary the lead away to England in the group's other game. As things stand, Hungary top the pile on seven points, one clear of Germany.
15'
CLOSE!
Kimmich with the cross this time, but Rüdiger heads his corner-kick delivery just wide. Germany have Italy right where they want them!
10'
GERMANY LEAD!
The hosts are rewarded for their enterprising start in Mönchengladbach. Süle starts the move with a raking diagonal ball out from the back. Werner helps it on to Raum, whose cross finds Kimmich on the penalty spot. He controls well, before firing through the legs of Donnarumma. That's now two in two against Italy in the Nations League for the Bayern man!
Italy respond in kind as Raspadori connects with Politano's cross from the right, only to be denied at close quarters by Neuer. The Germany stopper thwarts Gnonto on the follow-up, before the flag is raised for offside. That's why he's won more caps than any other Germany goalkeeper!
7'
SANE!
Germany's intense press forces a mistake in midfield. Sane collects and takes aim from 20 yards, but his low shot whistles just wide of the far post.
4'
RAUM THREAT
David Raum collects a pass from Sane and immediately looks to ping a ball into the box. It's blocked behind for a corner that Kimmich takes and Donnarumma punches clear. Bright start.
1'
OPENING!
Germany attack from the off as Müller finds Werner in the box, but his control lets him down and Italy can clear.
Kick-off!
THE TEAMS ARE OUT
And it's anthem time: Germany's unmistakable Deutschlandlied vs. Italy's bouncy Il Canto degli Italiani.
NEUER MILESTONE
Neuer wins his 113th senior cap, putting him joint-sixth among Germany's leading appearance-makers, alongside former teammate Philipp Lahm. Thomas Müller is the most-capped active player, on 116. Lothar Matthäus holds the record (150).
Jonas Hofmann only made his national team debut in October 2020, but he has not looked back since. The Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder has featured in all but two of 12 matches under Hansi Flick, starting eight. In that time, the 29-year-old has registered four goals and an assist, scoring in the recent draws with England and Hungary.
NEUER MEANS BUSINESS
Despite a busy campaign with Bayern Munich, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is one of three players to have started every Nations League game for Germany this summer. "You have to take every game seriously," the Bayern and Germany captain explained. "We want to be as well-rehearsed at the back as possible going into the World Cup. That is a decisive factor for me and that’s why it’s good to play against such strong opponents in the Nations League."
ENCOURAGING RECORD
Joshua Kimmich cancelled out a goal from Lorenzo Pellegrini in Bologna on Matchday 1. Germany are now unbeaten in six meetings with Italy, winning two, stretching back to their UEFA Euro 2012 semi-final loss.
Germany are unbeaten since Flick succeeded Joachim Löw as coach. They won their first eight, but have drawn their last four 1-1. "The team has made good progress. We haven’t lost a game yet but we have drawn the last four against albeit strong opponents," Flick commented in his pre-match press conference. "We were hoping for bit more and I thought that we were a bit further along in our development. As I said in the run-up to the international break, these four games allow us to analyse what we need to adjust in September."
THE STORY SO FAR
Germany came from behind to draw with Italy, before playing out a pair of 1-1 draws with England and Hungary. They're third in Group A3, behind Hungary (four points) and Italy (five points), but could go top with a win in Mönchengladbach. Italy beat Hungary 2-1 and drew 0-0 with England last week.
MORE ON THOSE TEAMS
Flick makes five changes to his starting line-up, with Lukas Klostermann, Antonio Rüdiger, Ilkay Gündogan, Thomas Müller and Leroy Sane recalled. Thilo Kehrer, Nico Schlotterbeck, Leon Goretzka, Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz are the men to make way. As for Italy, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Davide Frattesi are the only players to retain their places following the 0-0 draw with England.
Gollini, Cragno, Di Lorenzo, Luis Felipe, Caprani, Esposito, Scamacca, Locatelli, Pessina, Dimarco, Acerbi, Scalvini
WELCOME!
Germany are at home to Italy in their fourth UEFA Nations League Group A3 fixture. Hansi Flick's side have drawn their first three - can they sign off for the summer with maximum points against the reigning European champions?
