Italy Brace Up for Nail-Biting UEFA Nations League Group A2 Finale | OneFootball

November’s international break is upon us, and it’s crunch time in the UEFA Nations League, with Italy in prime position to lock down a top spot in a highly competitive Group A2. Luciano Spalletti’s charges sit atop the pile heading into the final two rounds.

It’s been a phenomenal start to the Nations League’s fourth edition for Italy following an underwhelming 2024 UEFA European Champions campaign last summer. Gli Azzurri have only dropped points once across the opening four games in a group featuring Belgium, France, and Israel.

They have racked up three wins, with a gut-wrenching 2-2 draw against De Rode Duivels at the Stadio Olimpico remaining the only blemish on a near-spotless cycle. However, there’s no room for complacency.

Only a point separates Italy from runners-up France ahead of a blockbuster group finale. Spalletti’s team will take on Belgium in Brussels on Thursday in the penultimate round. It will be a warm-up fixture for the top-of-the-table clash against France at Stadio San Siro.

Accustomed to securing a playoff berth in this competition, Italy have topped their group in the last two Nations League installments. Given the circumstances following a dismal last-16 exit at Euro 2024, replicating that feat this year would be the ultimate confidence booster.

Indeed, the Italians will soon embark on the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying, and they need every encouragement they can get after missing out on the last two final tournaments. For the four-time world champions and one of Europe’s best teams, that’s unacceptable.

However, Italy must not take their eyes off the ball in November. Reaching the Nations League playoffs remains a priority for Spalletti as we look at the two mouth-watering encounters waiting in the wings.

Belgium (A) – Thursday, November 14

Italy threw away a comfortable-looking two-goal cushion in the reverse fixture in Rome. Lorenzo Pellegrini’s sending-off toward the end of the first half facilitated Belgium’s comeback, inflicting Italy’s only setback in the ongoing cycle.

But despite dodging the bullet on Italian soil, Belgium’s hopes of progression are hanging by a thread. Since the day-one win against Israel, Domenico Tedesco’s lads have only claimed one point in three Group A2 outings.

As a result of this rotten patch, they commence Matchday 5 in third, five points adrift of second-placed France. The Belgians are in a dire situation as they cannot afford a slip-up against Italy to maintain their slim hopes of whittling down the gap on Les Bleus down the final stretch.

It’s worth noting that the Italians haven’t lost a competitive match against this opposition since May 1972, going unbeaten in their last six meetings (D2, L4).

France (H) – Sunday, November 17

Whatever the result against Belgium, this section will boil down to a heavyweight clash between Italy and France in Milan. San Siro will set the stage for this top-table six-pointer next weekend. Didier Deschamps’ side could take advantage of Italy’s potential slump against the Belgians to ascend the throne on Thursday.

Nonetheless, the upcoming showdown at Milan and Inter’s home venue will determine the fate of Group A2. Italy pulled off a memorable fightback in round one, overhauling an early deficit in Paris to run out 3-1 victors en route to their first competitive triumph against the French since 2008.

It was a wake-up call for France. They’ve since strung together three consecutive victories via an aggregate score of 8-2, including a gutsy 2-1 away win against Belgium last time out. Despite the Kylian Mbappe wobbles, Deschamps’ team will approach this ‘make or break’ contest with renewed optimism, considering they’ll likely put Israel to the sword three days from now.