The Italian National Team’s Journey Through the Nations League: All You Need to Know – Ligue 1 The Italian National Team’s Journey Through the Nations League: All You Need to Know – Ligue 1
The Italian National Team’s Journey Through the Nations League: All You Need to Know – Ligue 1

September 3, 2024

The Italian National Team’s Journey Through the Nations League: All You Need to Know – Ligue 1

The 2024-25 UEFA Nations League is set to kick off. The Italy national team, led by head coach Luciano Spalletti, is gearing up for their opening fixtures against France and Israel on Friday and Monday, respectively. Let’s look closer at the Azzurri and the newly expanded tournament as the competition begins.

Italy, known as Gli Azzurri, is one of the most successful national teams in football history, having won four World Cups (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006) and two European Championships (1968, 2020). With a rich footballing heritage, the team aims to add more accolades to their illustrious trophy cabinet. The Nations League allows Italy to showcase their prowess on the international stage.

Head coach Luciano Spalletti has named a 23-man squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures, which will see Italy face tough competition in France and Israel. The Azzurri will be eager to put their recent Euro 2024 group stage performances behind them, as they narrowly escaped elimination and advanced to the knockout stages. With talented players such as Gianluigi Donnarumma and a wealth of experience, Italy will look to make a strong impression in the Nations League.

As the competition heats up, football fans worldwide will closely watch Italy’s performance in the Nations League. With a history of success and a squad filled with talent, the Azzurri are set to make their mark in the 2024-25 edition of the UEFA Nations League.

Nations League Divisions Groups (A, B, C, and D)

League A

Group 1Croatia, Poland, Portugal, Scotland
Group 2Belgium, France, Israel, Italy
Group 3Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands
Group 4Denmark, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland

League B

Group 1Albania, Czechia, Georgia, Ukraine
Group 2England, Finland, Greece, Ireland
Group 3Austria, Kazakhstan, Norway, Slovenia
Group 4Iceland, Montenegro Türkiye, Wales

League C

Group 1Azerbaijan, Estonia, Slovakia, Sweden
Group 2Cyprus, Kosovo, Lithuania, Romania
Group 3Belarus, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Northern Ireland
Group 4Armenia, Faroe Islands, Latvia, North Macedonia

League D

Group 1Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, San Marino
Group 2Andorra, Malta, Moldova

Detailed explanation of the evolved Nations League format

The 2024-25 Nations League is set to undergo some exciting changes as it adds an additional round to the competition, promising fans more thrilling football action than ever before.

As in previous years, the group stages will commence with each team facing every other nation in their group, home and away. These matches will occur between now and mid-November, ensuring months of intense rivalry and top-class football. The team that finishes at the bottom of their group will be automatically relegated to the division below, keeping the stakes high throughout the entire stage.

League A’s group stages will be followed by an all-new quarter-final round in March, adding an extra layer of competition and excitement. The teams that secure the top two spots in their respective groups will progress to this stage, where they will face off in intense home and away fixtures. Victorious quarter-finalists will then advance to the prestigious competition’s finals in June 2025, where they will compete fiercely for the coveted title.

Once the quarter-finals conclude, the Nations League will return to its familiar format. The triumphant quarter-final winners will progress to the semi-finals, where the competition will grow more intense. From there, teams will either advance to the highly anticipated final or compete in the third-place play-off, as seen in previous editions of the Nations League.

With the addition of the new quarter-final round, the 2024-25 Nations League is set to provide football fans with even more thrilling moments and unforgettable memories. As the competition grows increasingly competitive, spectators can look forward to witnessing some of the world’s finest football talent showcase their skills on the international stage.

When is Italy’s next Nations League game?

Italy’s journey in the Nations League kicks off with an away fixture against France at the Parc des Princes on Friday, September 6, with a 19:45 BST kick-off time.

The team will then face Israel in an away fixture on Monday, September 9, at the Bozsik Arena in Budapest, Hungary, with a 19:45 kick-off. In October, during the international break, Italy will host Belgium and Israel in Rome and Udine, respectively. In November, they will play Belgium away and France at home, with the latter match set to take place at San Siro.

Key dates and events:

  • Knockout round play-offs: March 20-25, 2025
  • League A quarter-finals: March 20-25, 2025
  • Final tournament: June 4-8, 2025

As Italy progresses through the Nations League campaign, their performance in each match will determine their path to the final tournament. Fans eagerly anticipate the team’s efforts to secure their place among the elite in European football.

Italy’s roster for upcoming fixtures

The Italian national team has announced its squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures, featuring a mix of experienced players and promising young talent. The roster includes:

Goalkeepers:

  • Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain)
  • Alex Meret (Napoli)
  • Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham)

Defenders:

  • Alessandro Bastoni (Inter)
  • Raoul Bellanova (Atalanta)
  • Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli)
  • Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal)
  • Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus)
  • Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli)
  • Federico Dimarco (Inter)
  • Federico Gatti (Juventus)
  • Caleb Okoli (Leicester)
  • Destiny Udogie (Tottenham)

Midfielders:

  • Marco Brescianini (Atalanta)
  • Nicolò Fagioli (Juventus)
  • Davide Frattesi (Inter)
  • Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma)
  • Samuele Ricci (Torino)
  • Sandro Tonali (Newcastle)

Forwards:

  • Moise Kean (Fiorentina)
  • Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli)
  • Mateo Retegui (Atalanta)
  • Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio)

This well-rounded squad is expected to perform strongly in the Nations League as Italy aims to assert its dominance in European football.

Press conference commentary by Spalletti on Italy

Everything Spalletti said during Italy press conference: ‘I will create a new team’

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Katarzyna Nowak

Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Latest Football News, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.