The German national team will face Italy in the quarter-finals of the Nations League. This was the result of the draw on Friday afternoon at UEFA headquarters. Germany will play the first leg in Italy on March 20th, followed by the second leg at home three days later. The DFB has not yet decided on the venue for the second leg. “I look forward to it. “It’s a great opponent who has now slowly found its old strength,” said national coach Julian Nagelsmann in his first reaction in a Uefa interview immediately after the drawing ceremony in Nyon.
If the national team prevails against Italy, they would face the winner of the Portugal-Denmark game in the semi-finals. In the other two quarter-finals Croatia and France as well as Spain and the Netherlands meet.
Germany confidently qualified for the quarter-finals as group winners with four wins and two draws. Italy finished second in their group behind France. Most recently, the DFB team won 5-2 against Italy in the group phase of the 2022 Nations League and played 1-1. So far, the national team has met Italy 37 times. Germany has only won nine games with 15 defeats and 13 draws. Nagelsmann predicted a “duel on equal terms”. “Like us, they are not yet at the end of their journey. “They play offensive, attractive football,” said the 37-year-old, praising his opponents.
The quarter-finals are also the start of the international match year 2025. Nagelsmann’s goal is to reach the final round from June 4th to 8th, where Spain’s successor as reigning Nations League champion will be crowned in the semifinals and final. Like Italy, the DFB is trying to host the mini-tournament. A decision on this could come as early as Friday.
