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Israel national football team
Nations League | League A
Sep 9, 2024 at 7.45pm UK
Bozsik Stadion
Italy national football team

Israel
1 - 2
Italy

Abu Fani (90')
Ben Shimon (88'), Jaber (90+4'), Yehezkel (90+2'), Revivo (90+4')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Frattesi (38'), Kean (62')
Gatti (73')

Preview: Israel vs. Italy - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Monday's Nations League clash between Israel and Italy, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Having kicked off their latest UEFA Nations League campaign with a stunning victory in Paris, Italy meet Israel in their second Group 2 fixture on Monday.

The Azzurri head to Hungary - where the game will be played for security reasons - with three points already in the bag; meanwhile, their opponents were beaten 3-1 by Belgium.


Match preview

Federico Dimarco of Italy celebrates scoring against France on September 6, 2024 © Imago

After setting a new record for their fastest-ever goal conceded, it seemed Italy were set to continue their struggles on Friday evening, following a dismal defence of their European title.

When Bradley Barcola stole the ball from Giovanni Di Lorenzo and fired past Azzurri captain Gianluigi Donnarumma after just 13 seconds, gloom could have descended on Luciano Spalletti's side; instead, they launched a stirring fightback.

First, Federico Dimarco combined with the recalled Sandro Tonali to score a sublime equaliser, then Davide Frattesi put them in front before substitute Giacomo Raspadori wrapped up the points on 74 minutes.

Beating France 3-1 at Parc des Princes brought Italy's first win in Paris for 70 years, and also gave credence to Spalletti's talk of a fresh start.

At Euro 2024, the Azzurri never really found their rhythm and ultimately limped out in the last 16, so some new blood has been brought in for their latest quest to claim a first Nations League title.

Spalletti's predecessor, Euro 2020-winner Roberto Mancini, departed after leading his country to the 2023 finals, and then to a third place finish in the four-team tournament.

In order to go at least one better this time around, Italy must claim a top-two placing in League A Group 2, which would see them qualify for the new quarter-final stage.

Israel manager Ran Ben Shimon pictured in June 2023© Imago

While the Italians are targeting a place in the finals, Israel may have a tough time avoiding relegation, as fourth-placed teams are automatically demoted and finishing third results in a playoff.

Drawn into a particularly difficult group, they were promoted from League B in 2022, having topped a group featuring Iceland, Albania and - initially - Russia.

However, the calibre of opponents has stepped up a notch this season, and despite pulling themselves level against Belgium on Friday evening, Ran Ben Shimon's side were eventually beaten 3-1 by a Kevin De Bruyne-inspired side in the Hungarian city of Debrecen.

The Sky Blue and Whites had previously missed out on Euro 2024 due to defeat in the playoffs, where they were beaten 4-1 by Iceland, and it has been more than 50 years since they last made a major tournament appearance.

With conflict in the Middle East making any prospect of hosting games on home turf all but impossible, Israel remain in exile: once again, they must play in Hungary on Monday evening.

Israel Nations League form:


Israel form (all competitions):


Italy Nations League form:


Italy form (all competitions):



Team News

Riccardo Calafiori receives treatment for an injury while representing Italy on September 6, 2024.© Imago

Setting out his new tactical framework for the months ahead, against France, Luciano Spalletti made eight changes to the Italy XI that lost to Switzerland at Euro 2024 and switched to a three-man defence.

One member of that trio, Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori, sustained a freak injury on Friday night, as Ousmane Dembele improbably landed on his leg. It is expected that the ex-Bologna defender will soon recover, though.

The Azzurri will definitely be without Gianluca Scamacca (ACL) and Nicolo Barella (sinus surgery), but international new boys Marco Brescianini and Caleb Okoli are both available, while Destiny Udogie, Moise Kean and Sandro Tonali have all returned to the squad.

After scoring the third goal in Paris, Giacomo Raspadori could force his way into the lineup, partnering either Kean or Mateo Retegui up front in a 3-5-2 formation.

Meanwhile, Israel were without captain Eli Dasa through injury last week, so Leeds United loanee Manor Solomon captained his nation for the first time.

Only four of their starters had reached double figures for senior appearances, and a similarly inexperienced side is likely to line up at Budapest's Bozsik Arena on Monday.

Against Belgium, Anan Khalaili featured up front, but Maccabi Haifa striker Dean David is an alternative option alongside Solomon and rising star Oscar Gloukh.


Israel possible starting lineup:
Gerafi; Shlomo, Nachmias, Gandelman; Jehezkel, Lavi, Peretz, Gropper; Solomon, Gloukh; Khalaili

Italy possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Bastoni; Bellanova, Ricci, Tonali, Frattesi, Dimarco; Raspadori, Retegui


SM words green background

We say: Israel 0-2 Italy

Buoyed by their feats in France, new-look Italy should take care of business against an Israel side short of international nous and experience.

Moving onto six points from a possible six would put the Azzurri in a strong position ahead of next month's clash with Belgium in Rome.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Game History

How you voted: Israel vs Italy

Israel
12.6%
Draw
6.3%
Italy
81.0%
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Tables header RHS

League A1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal642014
Q Croatia Croatia62228
3 Scotland flag Scotland62137
4 Poland Poland61144

League A2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France641113
Q Italy Italy641113
3 Belgium Belgium61144
4 Israel Israel61144

League A3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany642014
Q Netherlands Netherlands62319
3 Hungary Hungary61326
4 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina60242

League A4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain651016
Q Denmark Denmark62228
3 Serbia Serbia61326
4 Switzerland Switzerland60242

League B1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic632111
2 Ukraine Ukraine62228
3 Georgia Georgia62137
4 Albania national flag Albania62137

League B2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England650115
2 Greece Greece650115
3 Ireland Rep. Ireland62046
4 Finland Finland60060

League B3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Norway Norway641113
2 Austria Austria632111
3 Slovenia Slovenia62228
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan60151

League B4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Wales flag Wales633012
2 Turkey Turkey632111
3 Iceland Iceland62137
4 Montenegro Montenegro61053

League C1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Sweden Sweden651016
2 Slovakia Slovakia641113
3 Estonia Estonia61144
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan60151

League C2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania550015
2 Kosovo flag Kosovo540112
3 Cyprus Cyprus62046
4 Lithuania Lithuania60060

League C3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland632111
2 Bulgaria Bulgaria62319
3 Belarus Belarus61417
4 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg60333

League C4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Macedonia N. Macedonia651016
2 Armenia Armenia62137
3 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands61326
4 Latvia Latvia61144

League D1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q San Marino flag San Marino42117
2 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar41306
3 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein40222

League D2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Republic of Moldova Moldova43019
2 Malta flag Malta42117
3 Andorra flag Andorra40131


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