Italy Triumph Over Israel 2-1 to Lead Nations League Group

With a close 2-1 victory against Israel in the Nations League on Monday in Budapest, Italy resumed their post-Euro 2024 comeback and topped Group A2. Due to the security situation in the Middle East, the Israel home match was played at the Bozsik Arena, where Italy won 1-0 thanks to goals in each half from Davide Frattesi and Moise Kean.

After their catastrophic championship defense at the European Championship, which ended in the round of sixteen, Luciano Spalletti’s team responded admirably, and they earned their second victory in as many days.

With their victories on Monday on a soggy night in Budapest and France’s 2-0 triumph over Belgium in Lyon, Italy finished first in their group with six points, three more than Les Bleus and the Red Devils.

With only 2,000 spectators, Monday’s game lacked the atmosphere of a senior international match. The most notable off-field incident occurred during Israel’s national anthem prior to kickoff, when a few Italy supporters turned their backs on the field.

As they did in Friday’s incredible 3-1 victory against France in Paris, the Azzurri got off to a poor start but were not penalized by Israel as they gradually gained control of the game.

Italy was already ahead by the time Frattesi scored his sixth goal for his country—scoring off a precise cross by Federico Dimarco—in the 38th minute, after Spalletti took over for Roberto Mancini just over a year earlier.

Just after the break, Sagiv Jehezkel had the opportunity to tie the score for Israel when he was unable to deflect Dor Peretz’s close-range scuffed effort beyond Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The last minute goal by Mohamed Abu Fani made it too late for Israel to rally, but Fiorentina striker Kean’s goal in the 62nd minute sealed the points and marked his first goal for Italy in nearly three years.