Germany squandered a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 against Italy on Sunday to earn a nerve-racking 5-4 aggregate victory and a spot in the Nations League last four.
The Germans shot out of the blocks and played their best first half in more than a decade with 16 efforts towards goal, Joshua Kimmich opening their account with a 30th minute penalty.
They then caught Italian keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and the entire defence napping with a quickly taken Joshua Kimmich corner for unmarked Jamal Musiala to slot in their second in the 36th minute.
Tim Kleindienst added a third on the stroke of halftime.
It was a German mistake, however, that launched Italy's comeback and allowed Moise Kean to cut the deficit four minutes after the restart. With the Germans a shadow of their earlier selves, Kean then beat defender Jonathan Tah in the 69th to make it 3-2.
Italy drew on the night with Giacomo Raspadori's stoppage-time penalty but could not find another goal to level the tie on aggregate as Germany prepare to face either Denmark or Portugal in the last four in June.
Germany vs Italy latest news
- Kimmich stars as Germany avoid Nations League collapse against Italy
Good night!
21:55 , Jonathan GorrieThanks for joining Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Germany’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Italy.
The Germans won 5-4 on aggregate to reach the semi-finals.
Find our full match report below!
FT: Germany 3-3 Italy (5-4 agg): Kimmich stars as Germany avoid Nations League collapse against Italy
21:47 , Jonathan GorrieIt’s over!
What a comeback from Italy but it just wasn’t enough in the end.
Germany reach the final four in the Nations League after drama in Dortmund.
GOAL! Germany 3-3 Italy | Giacomo Raspadori '94
21:40 , Jonathan Gorrie94 mins: GOAL!
Giacomo Raspadori scores from the spot!
Germany 3-2 Italy
21:39 , Jonathan Gorrie94 mins: PENALTY TO ITALY!
Mittelstadt handles when clearing a corner!
Germany 3-2 Italy
21:35 , Jonathan Gorrie90 mins: Into six added minutes here!
Germany 3-2 Italy
21:27 , Jonathan Gorrie81 mins: Kimmick opts to go under the wall but Donnarumma gets a big hand in the way to deny him.
Germany 3-2 Italy
21:26 , Jonathan Gorrie80 mins: Barella brings down Schlotterbeck just outside the box and Italy think they’ve given away a penalty.
It’s not quite that drastic but the Germans do have a free-kick on the edge of the box...
Germany 3-2 Italy
21:21 , Jonathan Gorrie75 mins: Hold on a minute!
After a VAR check, the decision is overturned! Schlotterbeck gets away with one there.
Germany 3-2 Italy
21:1873 mins: PENALTY TO ITALY!
Schlotterbeck brings down Di Lorenzo!
GOAL! Germany 3-2 Italy | Moise Kean '68
21:14 , Jonathan Gorrie68 mins: GOAL!
Italy are closing the gap! Great finish from Kean, who teases Tah before placing one into the bottom corner.
Germany 3-1 Italy
21:12 , Jonathan Gorrie66 mins: Italy want a penalty!
Schlotterbeck blocks Politano’s cross and the Italian is convinced it hit his hand, though VAR do not get involved.
Germany 3-1 Italy
21:08 , Jonathan Gorrie63 mins: To their credit, Germany now appear to have weathered the storm somewhat and have restored some order.
Germany 3-1 Italy
21:03 , Jonathan Gorrie58 mins: So much more purpose to what Italy are doing in an attacking sense now.
GOAL! Germany 3-1 Italy | Moise Kean '49
20:55 , Jonathan Gorrie49 mins: GOAL!
Really poor back pass from Sane is missed by Kimmich, allowing Kean to pounce.
The forward drives into the box and powers one into the bottom corner.
Germany 3-0 Italy
20:52 , Jonathan GorrieBack underway! Long old way back for Italy from here.
HT: Germany 3-0 Italy (5-1 agg)
20:35 , Jonathan GorrieThe hosts are in dreamland at the break!
GOAL! Germany 3-0 Italy | Tim Kleindienst '44
20:34 , Jonathan Gorrie44 mins: GOAL!
It gets worse for Italy! Tim Kleindienst powers in a header after another fine Kimmich cross.
Almost a brilliant save from Donnarumma but the ball still crosses the line.
Germany 2-0 Italy
20:3144 mins: Set-pieces have been a problem for Italy all night.
They now look short of confidence even when they do make a rare charge forward.
GOAL! Germany 2-0 Italy | Jamal Musiala '35
20:26 , Jonathan Gorrie35 mins: GOAL!
Second after a stunning save from Donnarumma to deny Kleindienst’s header, they are caught sleeping.
Kimmich takes a quick corner while the Italian goalkeeper is sorting out his defence and the Bayern star turns it home!
GOAL! Germany 1-0 Italy | Joshua Kimmich '29
20:18 , Jonathan Gorrie29 mins: GOAL!
Kimmich scores from the spot!
Germany 0-0 Italy
20:18 , Jonathan Gorrie28 mins: PENALTY TO GERMANY!
Buongiorno pulls Kleindienst’s shirt back as the German was looking to latch onto Goretzka’s through ball.
Germany 0-0 Italy
20:15 , Jonathan Gorrie26 mins: Donnarumma denies Sane in the clearest chance Germany have had yet.
Germany 0-0 Italy
20:10 , Jonathan Gorrie21 mins: Germany’s set-pieces wreak havoc in the Italian box time and time again.
Germany 0-0 Italy
20:04 , Jonathan Gorrie15 mins: Italy make an absolute mess of clearing a Kimmich free-kick, with the ball bobbling up and down in the penalty box for what felt an age.
They just about clear in the end.
Germany 0-0 Italy
19:58 , Jonathan Gorrie09 mins: Italy growing into it now, starting to see much more of the ball further up the field.
Neither side has had a great chance just yet but its been played at a fast pace.
Germany 0-0 Italy
19:53 , Jonathan Gorrie03 mins: Great defending from Tah to cut out Di Lorenzo’s cross. Kean was lurking at the back post.
Germany 0-0 Italy
19:51 , Jonathan Gorrie02 mins: A confident German start here, with Musiala seeing an awful lot of the ball.
KICK-OFF!
19:48 , Jonathan GorrieAway we go!
Germany vs Italy
19:15 , Jonathan GorrieThe German players soaking up the atmosphere!
👋#Kimmich & Co.: Das @DFB_Team im @SIGNALIDUNAPARK. 🇩🇪#NationsLeague | #DFBTeam | #GERITA pic.twitter.com/9s2JtINBtP
— UEFA Nations League DE (@EURO2024DE) March 23, 2025
Confirmed Italy lineup
18:56 , Jonathan GorrieItaly XI: Donnarumma, Gatti, Buongiorno, Bastoni, Di Lorenzo, Barella, Ricci, Tonali, Udogie, Kean, Maldini
Subs: Meret, Vicario, Rovella, Lucca, Frattesi, Raspadori, Politano, Ruggeri, Casadei, Zaccagni, Comuzzo, Bellanova
Confirmed Germany lineup
18:55 , Jonathan GorrieGermany XI: Baumann, Schlotterbeck, Tah, Rudiger, Kimmich, Stiller, Goretzka, Mittelstadt, Sane, Musiala, Kleindienst
Subs: Nubel, Ortega, Koch, Gross, Burkardt, Amiri, Undav, Leweling, Bisseck, Adeyemi, Raum, Andrich
Germany vs Italy
18:25 , Jonathan GorrieA look inside the Italian dressing room!
All set in Dortmund 👕#GERITA #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/oTIIcFHh5V
— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) March 23, 2025
Germany vs Italy: Latest Nations League odds today
18:09 , Jonathan GorrieGermany to win: 4/5
Italy to win: 16/5
Odds via Betfair and subject to change.
Germany vs Italy: Head to head (h2h) history and results
17:28 , Jonathan GorrieGermany wins: 11
Draws: 12
Italy wins: 15
Germany vs Italy: Nations League score prediction today
17:19 , Jonathan GorrieGermany will surely fancy their chances of reaching the final four given they have both the lead and home advantage tonight.
Germany to progress.
Italy team news vs Germany today
17:18 , Jonathan GorrieArsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori has withdrawn from the Italy squad through injury amid reports that he is facing two to three weeks out, putting him in a race to be fit to face Real Madrid.
Calafiori was forced off late on in the Azzurri’s 2-1 Nations League quarter-final first-leg defeat by Germany in Milan on Thursday night after slipping horribly while trying to intercept a pass and seeing his left knee buckle painfully underneath him.
Germany team news vs Italy today
17:18 , Jonathan GorrieGermany are not thought to have picked up any fresh injury concerns at this stage. Schlotterbeck and Kleindienst could start.
Germany vs Italy: TV channel and live stream for Nations League today
17:17 , Jonathan GorrieTV channel: The game will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video. Coverage starts at 7.35pm GMT ahead of an 7.45pm kick-off.
Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch on a live stream via the Amazon Prime Video website or app.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog.
Welcome
17:01 , Jonathan GorrieGood afternoon and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Germany’s Nations League quarter-final against Italy.
Kick-off from the Signal Iduna Park is at 7.45pm GMT.
