Germany vs Italy Player Ratings: 9/10 for Kimmich, Gundogan; Bastoni gets 3

Joshua Kimmich and Timo Werner starred as Germany thrashed Italy 5-2 in their UEFA Nations League Group A3 encounter on Tuesday night.

Germany picked up their first win of the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League campaign as they hammered European champions Italy 5-2 at the Borussia Park in Monchengladbach on Tuesday.

After Italy striker Giacomo Raspadori saw an early effort saved by Manuel Neuer, it was all Germany as they asserted control over the visitors. Joshua Kimmich opened the scoring ten minutes in, after getting on the end of a David Raum cross. Gianluigi Donnarumma made a couple of good saves to keep Jonas Hofmann and Timo Werner out but was beaten by Ilkay Gundogan’s penalty after Alessandro Bastoni had fouled Hofmann.

Italy came out sharper in the second half and had a couple of half-chances, but Germany made it 3-0 in the 50th minute through Thomas Muller. The Azzurri came close to scoring not long after, but Neuer pulled off an absolutely sensational stop to deny Nicolo Barella, although the midfielder had strayed offside. Timo Werner then scored a quickfire double just before the 70th-minute mark to heap more misery on Roberto Mancini’s side.

Italy pulled one back in the 77th minute through youngster Wilfried Gnonto, who scored his first international goal. Bastoni added another late on when he headed home a corner kick as the game ended 5-2 in favour of Hansi Flick’s side. The result sees Germany move to second place in Group A3, a point behind leaders Hungary, who thrashed England 0-4 at the Molineux.

Germany

Manuel Neuer: 8/10

The Germany legend made an early save to deny Giacomo Raspadori and then pulled off an outrageous stop to keep Nicolo Barella out in the second half before tipping another effort from Federico Dimarco over.

Lukas Klostermann: 7/10

A solid outing from the RB Leipzig ace. Klostermann defended well when needed to against the visitors, who did not always pose a great attacking threat and got forward to support Hofmann. 

Niklas Sule: 8/10

A fine performance from the Borussia Dortmund new boy, who was a rock at the back. Sule backed it up with some fine distribution, playing a part in Kimmich’s goal with a lovely lobbed pass in the build-up.

Antonio Rudiger: 7/10

Reinstated to the starting XI, Rudiger was his usual aggressive self at the back, not giving an inch to the opposition while striding out of the backline confidently on a regular basis. 

David Raum: 8/10

A much greater threat on the left side than Klostermann on the right, David Raum caused all sorts of problems to the Italian defence with his marauding runs. The left-back set Kimmich up for the opening goal with a fine cross and delivered several dangerous balls into the box.

Joshua Kimmich: 9/10

The man who ran the show for Germany from the centre of the park, Kimmich was easily the standout player on the pitch. The midfielder made a ghosting run into the box to turn home Raum’s cross for the opening goal and dictated the tempo of the game beautifully from the centre of the park. Crisp in his passing, sound in his off-the-ball duties, the Bayern Munich ace was top-notch across the board.

Ilkay Gundogan: 9/10

The Manchester City veteran complemented Kimmich brilliantly in the centre of the park as the duo ensured that Italy did not get a foothold in the contest. Gundogan displayed top quality on the ball as he constantly played vertical passes to send the likes of Thomas Muller and Timo Werner through, while he also converted from the penalty spot to make it 2-0 close to half-time.

Jonas Hofmann: 7.5/10

The Borussia Monchengladbach star has been one of Germany’s top players during this international break and put in another solid display. Hofmann forced a save from Donarumma in the first period before winning the penalty from which Gundogan scored. His movement and link-up play were sharp throughout.

Thomas Muller: 8/10

The veteran attacking midfielder was at the heart of almost everything good Germany conjured up in the attacking third of the pitch. Like Hofmann, Muller’s movement was sharp and intelligent, while he used the ball very well. He made it 3-0 early in the second half before playing a role in the buildup to Germany’s fourth with a brilliant pass.

Leroy Sane: 7/10

The German speedster was a lively presence in the attack and caused some problems with his searing pace. However, he appeared wasteful on occasion. Sane fired an effort narrowly wide in the early exchanges and had a shot saved close to half-time.

Timo Werner: 8/10

While his club form does not inspire much confidence, Werner more often than not delivers on the international stage. The Chelsea striker scored two late goals to bury Italy on the night. Up until that point, the forward’s all-round play was quite sharp as he moved well and exhibited neat interplay with those around him.

SUBSTITUTES

Serge Gnabry: 7/10

On for Hofmann just past the hour mark. Set up both of Werner’s goals.

Jamal Musiala: N/A

Replaced Muller with 15 minutes left. Kept the Italian defence on their toes.

Lukas Nmecha: N/A

Sent on for Werner with less than 15 minutes left.

Jonathan Tah: N/A

Late sub for Sule.

Anton Stach: N/A

Came on for Gundogan late on.

Italy

Gianluigi Donnarumma: 5/10

The PSG goalkeeper was key in keeping the scoreline down to 2-0 at half-time as he made some important saves. However, he could not hold the fort behind a crumbling defence and then ended up gifting Germany their fifth goal by passing the ball straight to an opponent.

Davide Calabria: 3/10

Getting the nod at right-back ahead of Giovanni Di Lorenzo, the AC Milan man endured a torrid night as he was run ragged by Sane and Raum throughout. 

Gianluca Mancini: 3/10

Coming into the side ahead of Francesco Acerbi and Federico Gatti, the AS Roma star was all over the place at the heart of the Italian defence. His positioning was poor, and he found it hard to cope with the movement of the German forwards.

Alessandro Bastoni: 3/10

A poor display from the Inter Milan defender, who is on the radars of Tottenham this summer. Bastoni looked shaky and unconvincing from the off and gave away a penalty in the first period before failing to deal with Raum’s cross leading up to Germany’s third. He scored late on, but it counted for little. 

Leonardo Spinazzola: 4/10

Given the lengthy layoff, the left-back was always going to find it hard to cope with this German side, and it was the case in the first period. Showed some improvement after moving into a wing-back role before being subbed off.

Davide Frattesi: 3/10

The young midfielder could not hold a candle to his German counterparts as he struggled to get tight to Kimmich and Gundogan in the first period. He did create an early chance for Raspadori, but was extremely poor otherwise and was withdrawn at half-time.

Bryan Cristante: 3/10

Much like Frattesi, Cristante appeared way too inferior against the quality of the German midfield, who had no problems running circles around him.

Nicolo Barella: 5/10

One of the few outfield players for Italy to show a fight as Barella looked a threat every time he pushed forward. The Inter Milan star had an effort at goal in the first period and then was denied by a brilliant save from Neuer, although replays showed that the midfielder was offside.

Matteo Politano: 2/10

Reinstated into the starting XI, the Italian winger failed to make any sort of impact and was withdrawn by the manager close to half-time as he opted for a switch in formation.

Giacomo Raspadori: 2/10

Raspadori came in for Gianluca Scamacca but failed to offer the requisite threat up top, apart from an early chance when he fluffed his lines. Raspadori hardly caused any concern for the German defence and was taken off at half-time.

Wilfried Gnonto: 5/10

The 18-year-old forward had an early chance, but Neuer reacted quickly to thwart him. Gnonto spent most of the game on the periphery before scoring his first goal for Italy in the second half.

SUBSTITUTES

Luiz Felipe: 3/10

On for Politano in the 44th minute as Mancini shifted to a three-man defence. But Luiz Felipe struggled at the back against the German attackers.

Gianluca Caprari: 4/10

On for Frattesi at half-time, Caprari had one or two positive moments but ultimately fizzled out against a solid German backline.

Giorgio Scalvini: 4/10

The 18-year-old defender made his debut, replacing Raspadori at half-time. He was unable to stem the flow of the German attacks.

Federico Dimarco: 4/10

Dimarco had a swerving effort saved by Neuer after replacing Spinazzola in the 65th minute.

Gianluca Scamacca: N/A

Late substitute for Mancini.