Stuttgart’s Jamie Leweling enjoyed a dream Germany debut, scoring the winner in their 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in the Nations League on Monday to secure his country’s spot in the next round.
The 23-year-old had put the ball in the net in the second minute but his effort was ruled offside. He did it better in the 64th, firing into the top corner after the Dutch failed to clear a corner.
Before kick-off in Munich, Germany held a farewell tribute for Ilkay Gündogan, Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller and Toni Kroos following their retirements from international football. There was also a a minute’s silence in memory of Johan Neeskens and Dieter Burdenski after their recent deaths.
Germany had the visitors on the backfoot from the start, creating chances for Tim Kleindienst and Maximilian Mittelstädt as the Dutch struggled to find any way into the game. The hosts came close through with Serge Gnabry before Leweling drilled in the winner. The visitors, who were missing Virgil van Dijk through suspension, failed to muster a shot on target in the first period but improved after the break and both Xavi Simons and Donyell Malen had major chances to snatch a scarcely deserved point in the closing stages.
“We won as a team. I scored but we played a good game and I am happy to have helped,” Leweling said. “The Dutch are a big team. We let them run, we kept possession and used our chances to score.”
Germany are top of Group A3 with 10 points from four matches and are guaranteed a spot in the next round, with the Dutch five points behind in second place. In the same group, two goals from the Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai gave Hungary a 2-0 win over Bosnia in Zenica to move level on five points with the Netherlands.
Italy’s defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo scored twice in a 4-1 home win over Israel in Group A2 as Luciano Spalletti’s side put one foot in the quarter-finals. The win in Udine kept Italy top of the pool with 10 points, one ahead of France, who beat third-placed Belgium 2-1 thanks to two goals from Randal Kolo Muani. Italy need at least one point from their two remaining games to guarantee a place in the next round.
The Italy striker Mateo Retegui broke the deadlock by firing a penalty into the top corner in the 41st minute, while after the break Di Lorenzo headed the second from Giacomo Raspadori’s free-kick. Mohammad Abu Fani pulled a goal back for Israel direct from a corner before Federico Dimarco set up Davide Frattesi for Italy’s third and Di Lorenzo sealed the win with a low shot from the edge of the box. Daniel Maldini, son of the great Paolo, came on in the second half to make his debut for Italy.
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Group B4 leaders Turkey strengthened their grip on top spot with a fine second-half performance to sink Iceland 4-2 in Reykjavík. Goals from Irfan Kahveci, Hakan Calhanoglu, Arda Guler and Kerem Akturkoglu – all after the hour mark – beat the hosts, who led through a ninth-minute strike from Orri Óskarsson and saw Andri Gudjohnsen make it 2-2. In the same group, Harry Wilson’s penalty was the only goal in Wales’s 1-0 home win over Montenegro in Cardiff.
Group B1 leaders Georgia were beaten 1-0 at home by Albania thanks to a 48th-minute effort by Kristjan Asllani but second-placed Czech Republic failed to take full advantage as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Ukraine in Wroclaw.
Slovakia extended their unbeaten run at the top of Group C1 with a 3-1 win in Azerbaijan, while Sebastian Nanasi scored twice as second-placed Sweden coasted to a 3-0 win in Estonia.
