Football
Germany vs Italy Nations League Preview, Prediction, Team News And Lineups
Kieran Lynch is a sports writer specialising in football and Formula One. He is a sports journalism graduate of Leeds Trinity University and completed a Press Association NCTJ course in Newcastle. He previously worked as a news reporter for the Eastern Daily Press in Norfolk and spent five years as a sports writer at the MailOnline.
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Germany will look to defend a 2-1 lead in the second-leg of the Nations League quarter-final on Sunday night against Italy, and here we have the team news and predicted lineups in our preview.
Germany vs Italy Preview
Italy will travel to Borussia Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park to play Germany in the second-leg of their Nations League quarter-final clash on Sunday night.
Germany were unbeaten in their Nations League group which included the Netherlands, Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
They had to come from behind though when they met Italy at the San Siro on Thursday night.
Sandro Tonali – fresh off the highs of Newcastle’s Carabao Cup victory over Liverpool – opened the scoring after just nine minutes.
Borussia Monchengladbach striker Tim Kleindienst scored just after half-time setting up an entertaining conclusion to the game.
That winning feeling 🖤❤️💛#DFB #GermanFootball #ITAGER
📸 DFB/ Philipp Reinhard pic.twitter.com/pRKgIVvDkt
— German Football (@DFB_Team_EN) March 20, 2025
Leon Goretzka, who was making his return to international football after last representing Germany in 2023, scored a 76th-minute winner for Germany.
Sunday’s match should prove to be another thriller between two giants of the European international stage. There shouldn’t be too much change to the lineups for Germany vs Italy – though Kleindienst certainly will feel he should get a chance after scoring in the first-leg.
Germany have Italy’s number though having not lost in any of their last six previous meetings.
Italy’s last victory over Germany was in the semi-finals of Euro 2012 where Mario Balotelli scored a stunning double to book his side’s place in the final – which they ultimately lost to Spain.
Germany Team News
Germany have a significant number of injuries meaning that rotation is likely to be limited.
Kai Havertz, Florian Wirtz and Marc-Andre ter Stegen were among the absentees going into the international games.
Tim Kleindienst could make the starting lineup in Dortmund over Jonathan Burkardt after scoring Germany’s equaliser against Italy.
Italy Team News
Mateo Retegui and Federico Dimarco are unavailable for Italy while there are concerns over Arsenal star Riccardo Calafiori’s fitness.
The Arsenal defender was seen limping after the game on Thursday night.
Andrea Cambiaso is expected to be available but might not make the starting lineup for Italy against Germany.
Germany vs Italy Confirmed Lineups
Germany (3-4-2-1): Baumann; Schlotterbeck, Tah, Rudiger; Kimmich, Stiller, Goretzka, Mittelstadt; Sane, Musiala; Kleindienst
Italy (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Gattim, Buongiorno, Bastoni; Di Lorenzo, Barella, Ricci, Tonali, Udogie; Kean, Maldini
Germany vs Italy Prediction
Italy will push hard early to get back into the game to try and make the semi-finals of the Nations League.
However, looking at the potential lineups, Germany should have enough to hang onto their advantage, even if we reckon this will be a score draw.