Italian defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo scored twice in a 4-1 home win over Israel in the Nations League on Monday, ensuring Luciano Spalletti’s side have a foothold in the quarter-finals.

The win left Italy at the top of League A’s Group Two with 10 points, one ahead of France, which beat third-placed Belgium 2-1. Italy needs at least one point from the two remaining group games to secure a place in the next round.

Striker Mateo Retegui took a penalty into the top corner in the 41st minute and headed the second goal through Di Lorenzo after a free kick from Giacomo Raspadori.

Mohammed Abu Fani scored Israel’s equalizer straight from a corner in the 66th minute, 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.

There were snipers on the roof of the stadium and a heavy police presence throughout the city of Udine during the match, as Israel played outside neutral Hungary for the first time this year due to the country’s ongoing war with Hamas.

Udine was on high alert as the game was played against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has spread to Lebanon following the more than year-long war in Gaza.

In the end, both the game and an earlier pro-Palestine demonstration passed without incident.

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Italy dominated possession from the start, but Israel created a good chance early on through Oscar Gloukh, who shot just wide from the edge of the box before visiting goalkeeper Omri Glazer Retegui saved well from close range.

Glazer soon showed his skills again, denying Retegui again before the striker finally got on the scoresheet after Italy were awarded a penalty before half-time for Dor Peretz’s foul on Sandro Tonali.

Di Lorenzo doubled the hosts’ lead in the 54th minute, converting Giacomo Raspadori’s free kick with a header that bounced in front of the goalkeeper and went into the right post.

Israel conceded against the run of play, which was given after a VAR review.

But Italy grew in confidence and Frattesi made it 3-1 with a weak first goal in the 72nd minute before Di Lorenzo took the points seven minutes later.

Since scoring for Italy against Lithuania in September 2021, Di Lorenzo has scored five goals for his country, while fellow defender Dimarco has three.

Israel, which was promoted to the top League A in the last edition, is in last place in the group standings without a point.

Italy, who blew a two-goal lead in a draw against the Belgians last week, face Domenico Tedesco’s side again in November before their final home game against France.

Information from Reuters and The Associated Press was used in this story.