ITALY IN CONTENTION FOR FINAL PHASE

 

Italian football received a big boost after the senior national team defeated England 1-0 at home to stay in contention for the final phase of the UEFA Nations League this season. The Italians were not in top form ahead of this season’s Nations League, but they have been able to return to form to stay in contention for the final phase via Group A3.

Only one team will qualify for the final phase of this season’s Nations League. Apart from England and Italy, Hungary and Germany are the other teams in Group A3. Italian football suffered a huge setback when the senior team failed to qualify for the World Cup tournament in Russia four years, but the team recovered to win the European Championship last summer. The optimism from winning the European Championship was then wiped out with the failure to qualify for this year’s World Cup tournament. Italian football can recover from the setback of failing to qualify for the World Cup tournament in Qatar by securing a place in the final phase of this season’s Nations League billed to take place next year.

Italy will have to win Group A3 to qualify for the final phase of the Nations League this season. The Italians are second on theGroup table with eight points from five games. They are two points off leaders Hungary ahead of the final set of games in the group. The Hungarians have ten points from their five games in Group A3. Germany are third on the league table with six points from five games, while England are last on the league table with two points from five games and they have been demoted to Group B as a result.

For the final set of Group A3 games, Hungary will take on Italy at home while England take on Germany at home in the other group game. Italy will have to beat hosts Hungary to take top spot in Group A3 and qualify for the final phase.