Werner, Kimmich Shines As Germany Trash Italy In Nations League Match

 On matchday four of the UEFA Nations League in 2022, Germany thrashed an inexperienced Italy team 5-2 at Borussia-Park.

Goals by Joshua Kimmich, Ilkay Gundogan, Thomas Muller, and Timo Werner (two) were enough for Germany to win comfortably, moving them up to second place in Group A3.

After a swift counter attack, Leroy Sane fizzed a shot from outside the box just beyond the foot of Gianluigi Donnarumma's left post, giving the game's first sight of goal.

Italy had a better chance a few moments later. Giacomo Raspadori volleyed a superb curving ball from the right flank goalwards, but experienced goalkeeper Manuel Neuer saved his effort.

The breakthrough for Germany would come in the tenth minute, thanks to Kimmich. Late into the box, the midfielder snatched David Raum's ball from the left flank. The Bayern star coolly tapped past Donnarumma after neatly controlling the ball.

In the first half, Germany truly underlined their superiority, with international experience in their ranks making all the difference. Donnarumma denied Die Mannschaft a second goal on two times before the break. Sane's sweeping play concluded in Jonas Hofmann receiving the ball on the right side of the penalty box, prompting the first save. The Italy goalkeeper got down effectively to save his goal-scoring attempt. The next player to be stopped was Werner, who saw his powerful effort palmed out for a corner kick by the goalkeeper.

At the end of the first half, the home team got their second goal in extra time. After Alessandro Bastoni pushed Hofmann to the ground on the right side of the box, Germany was awarded a penalty, which was duly converted by Man City's Gundogan. To make it 2-0 Germany, the midfielder rifled the ball down the middle.

At the opening of the second half, a couple of half-time substitutions seemed to jolt Italy into action, as Bryan Cristante saw a well-struck attempt from the edge of the box fly just wide of the post, and Giorgio Scalvini headed a corner kick wide moments later.

After Donnarumma handed the ball to Gnabry on the edge of his own penalty box, Germany made it 5-0 just 60 seconds later. Werner scored with a side-footed goal after the substitute squared the ball to him.

In the 77th minute, Italy equalized when 18-year-old Wilfried Gnonto scored his first senior international goal, sneaking in at the back post to convert a loose pass. In injury time, they fought back a goal when Bastoni rose highest from a corner kick to make it 5-2.