Italy continued their impressive start to the UEFA Nations League with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Israel on Monday. The win keeps Luciano Spalletti’s side at the top of Group A2 with a perfect record of two wins from two matches.
Davide Frattesi opened the scoring for Italy just before half-time, bundling the ball home with his chest after a Federico Dimarco pass. Moise Kean then doubled the lead in the 62nd minute, reacting quickly to a rebound after a shot by Giacomo Raspadori was saved by Israeli goalkeeper Yoav Gerafi.
Israel, playing their first-ever match in League A after gaining promotion from League B, did not go down without a fight. They managed to pull a goal back in the 90th minute through Mohammed Abu Fani, who found the net from the edge of the box after a free-kick.
Despite the late goal, Italy held on for the win, showcasing a performance that was more shaky than their dominant 3-1 victory over France in their opening match. Spalletti made five changes to the starting lineup, with Raspadori and Kean replacing Lorenzo Pellegrini and Mateo Retegui up front.
Frattesi, who has now scored six goals under Spalletti since the Italian coach took over in August 2023, remains a key player for Italy. He delivered a strong performance against Israel and continues to be a prolific goalscorer for the Euro 2020 champions.
This victory over Israel strengthens Italy’s position in Group A2, putting them in a good spot to reach the final four of the Nations League. The next match for Italy will be a tough test against Belgium, who are currently in third place with three points after their win over France.
