Published on : 04/06/2022 – 08:02
Paris (AFP) – The eternal Italian and German rivals will face Bologna for Saturday’s clash in the League of Nations, during the first day of Group B, which will also see Hungary receive England in front of 35,000 people, despite a closed door decreed by the ‘.
Italy, absent from the 2022 World Cup and beaten 3-0 by Argentina this week during the Intercontinental Nations Cup, has the opportunity to regain a little pride.
But the Germans haven’t lost a single game (8 wins, 1 draw) since Hansi Flick took over as coach in September 2021, even if they have yet to face opponents as prestigious as the reigning European champion.
The former Bayern Munich coach explained in a press conference that “Germany must once once more become one of the best teams in the world”. With this objective, a success in Italy, which has only happened twice in twelve trips, would send a strong signal five months before the World Cup in Qatar.
In the other match of this group, England will challenge Hungary at the Puskas Arena in Budapest where 35,000 spectators will take place, despite the decision of UEFA to play this match behind closed doors following racist and homophobic slogans launched during the Euro.
To partially circumvent this sanction, the Hungarian Federation has exploited a provision of the European body allowing, in the event of closed stands, to invite children under the age of 14 who are licensed in football clubs on condition that they are accompanied one adult (UEFA Article 73 sets at least one adult for every 10 children invited).
“A real surprise for all of us,” said England coach Gareth Southgate at a press conference on Friday. The Three Lions, without Phil Foden positive for Covid-19, will have to ignore this particular context in order to win once morest the least prestigious opponent in the group.
The other matches of the day will see Ireland, Turkey and Romania on deck.
The program of Nations League matches scheduled for Saturday June 4
League A
Groupe 3
(6:00 p.m.) Hungary – England
(8:45 p.m.) Italy – Germany
Ligue B
Groupe 1
(3:00 p.m.) Armenia – Ireland
Groupe 3
(6:00 p.m.) Finland – Bosnia and Herzegovina
(8:45 p.m.) Montenegro – Romania
C-League
Groupe 1
(18h00) Lithuania – Luxembourg
(8:45 p.m.) Turkey – Faroe Islands
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