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2022/23 UEFA Nations League
League A - Group 3
Matchday 4
Germany v Italy
Borussia-Park
Monchengladbach, Germany
Tuesday, 14 June 2022
Kick-off is at 20h45
Germany will be seeking their first win in the
UEFA Nations League when they host group leaders Italy at Borussia-Park on Tuesday, June 14.
Die Mannschaft trail the Azzurri by two points in Group 3 after drawing their opening three games in the competition to occupy third place.
Hansi Flick's side opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against the European champions on June 4 before England denied them a first victory three days later when Harry Kane scored an 88th-minute penalty to rescue a point for England.
The Germans played out to a third successive 1-1 scoreline on Saturday against Hungary as Jonas Hofmann (9') quickly cancelled out Zsolt Nagy's sixth-minute opener.
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Flick bemoaned an error-strewn performance that prevented them from kicking on and claiming all three points against the Magyars.
"Ahead of the game, I said that this would be our second-toughest match after the England game," he told the DFB's official website.
"Hungary were a very compact unit, and we just didn't manage to play forward convincingly enough; we made too many mistakes.
"That said, we're still in a process of development. We need to make sure we learn our lessons from this game. We lacked a bit of conviction.
"I won't go on and start making any excuses: we wanted the three points today, and everyone in the dressing room is disappointed that we didn't get them."
The Italians continued the rebuilding process as they held the Three Lions to a goalless stalemate at Molineux on Saturday.
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Roberto Mancini's inexperienced team had beaten the Hungarians 2-1 in Cesena four days prior and they will be looking to keep the momentum going in Monchengladbach.
Mancini admits it will take time to mold this new crop of players into world beaters following the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup with the old crew.
"It's difficult with young players, because you need to give them time, and we don't always have time. People want to win straight away and a youngster needs time to settle and make his mark," he told RAI Sport.
"Unfortunately, in Italy when something negative happens, people forget all about the positive things too. When we started out, it felt like we were abandoned in the desert.
"But we put together a Nazionale that won the European Championship and went unbeaten for over three years. That means these lads, despite a few negative incidents, achieved something.
"I hope now to quickly find the right path with lads who can be compatible with our ideas of football, along with those who were left behind to rest, so we can together create a strong Nazionale."
Head-to-Head record:
Matches - 36
Germany - 9
Italy - 15
Draws - 12
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