Germany in the Nations League semi-finals: thriller against Italy!

Germany in the Nations League semi-finals: thriller against Italy!

On March 24, 2025, the German national soccer team qualified for the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League. In the highly dramatic game against Italy, the game ended 3:3. Thanks to a 2-1 first leg win, this is enough for promotion. Germany's next opponent will be Portugal, who beat Denmark 5-2 after extra time. In the other semi-final, Spain and France face each other, with Spain eliminating the Netherlands on penalties and France also defeating Croatia in a penalty shootout. The Final Four will take place on June 4th in Germany.

In the game against Italy, Germany initially clearly dominated. The team was already leading 3-0 at halftime. The first goal came from Joshua Kimmich, who scored a penalty in the 30th minute after Alessandro Buongiorno committed a foul. A short time later, Jamal Musiala increased the score with a quick corner in the 36th minute, followed by Tim Kleindienst, who scored the third goal with a header in the 45th minute. However, Italy did not give up and started to catch up. Moise Kean reduced the score in the 49th minute and also scored his second goal in the 69th minute. However, a penalty for Italy was taken back in the 76th minute. Giacomo Raspadori finally converted another penalty in stoppage time (95th minute).

Semi-finals and clashes

In the semi-finals on June 4th, Germany will face Portugal, who won a thrilling duel against Denmark. The Portuguese were initially behind thanks to an own goal from Joachim Andersen in the 38th minute, but were able to decide the game with two goals from Francisco Trincao in the 86th and 91st minutes. Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty in the 6th minute of the game, which underlined the drama of the game.

In the other semi-final, Spain will face France. Spain beat the Netherlands after taking the lead three times, while France eliminated Croatia on penalties. Both games will be crucial for the nations involved to win the UEFA Nations League title.

UEFA Nations League: An Overview

The UEFA Nations League was launched in the 2018/19 season and includes 55 member associations divided into four leagues A, B, C and D. League A is the highest league, while League D is the lowest. The mode involves teams playing in groups in which points are collected. The rhythm of the tournaments takes place every two years. The league is currently in its fourth season, which will end in 2024/25.

The final group ranking is determined by various criteria, including points, goal difference and number of wins. The best teams have the opportunity to qualify for the final tournament. These results also influence the seeding list for the upcoming European Qualifiers, making the Nations League an important part of international football. The upcoming games in June are therefore eagerly awaited and could have a significant impact on the future of many players and nations.

For further information and details on the matches and results, see Vienna.at and Wikipedia.