Thanks to the victory achieved against Belgium, Italy this evening secured the pass for the Nations League quarter-finals which will take place next March. Luciano Spalletti’s team, which has 13 points in group 2A, also consolidated first position thanks to the goalless draw between France and Israel. However, first place is not yet mathematical.
In fact, Deschamps’ French team will arrive at San Siro on Sunday, who are currently at -3, have a worse goal difference and lost 3-1 at the Parc des Princes last September against the Azzurri. This means, consequently, that not only will Italy have two results out of three available to win the group, but that even a narrow defeat would allow the Azzurri to finish ahead of France. However, should the French team win with two or more goals in Milan, then the scenario would be reversed.
But why is it important to finish the Nations League group in first place?
Finishing the group in first position would allow the Azzurri to avoid the leaders of the other groups in the quarter-finals which, barring last-minute reversals, will be Germany, Spain and Portugal, i.e. the three strongest and most accredited teams in the other groups.
The League A Group 2 standings
Italy 13
France 10
Belgium 4
Israel 1
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