UDINE, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Giovanni Di Lorenzo of Italy scores with a header during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League A Group A2 match between Italy and Israel at Stadio Friuli on October 14, 2024 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)

Giovanni Di Lorenzo scored twice, with Mateo Retegui and Davide Frattesi also scoring as Italy beat Israel 4-1 to top the Nations League group.

The Azzurri lost their perfect record with a 2-2 draw against Belgium when they were down to 10 men, so Lorenzo Pellegrini was suspended, while Giacomo Raspadori, Guglielmo Vicario and Nicolò Fagioli moved into the starting eleven. Israel were bottom but had scored in all three games with Manor Solomon, Omri Gandelman, Miguel Vitor, Shawn Goldberg, Eli Dasa and Roy Revivo missing, while Dean David asked not to be counted due to playing time.

See how it developed in the live blog.

Oscar Gloukh had the first chance when he shot just inches from the edge of the box after a mistake from Fagioli in midfield, while Glazer ran off his line and stopped Mateo Retegui from having a one-on-one after a pass from Giovanni Di Lorenzo -To score hits.

Riccardo Calafiori was on the baseline a few moments later to pass for Raspadori, but the ball was cleared just off the line.

Italy had a wonderful team move with one-touch football from Alessandro Bastoni and Raspadori, which resulted in Retegui’s shot being directed over by Glazer.

After a through pass from Raspadori from six meters away, the goalkeeper also threw himself in the way of Sandro Tonali’s finish.

Dimarco controlled a long pass from Raspadori and rolled it across goal, but Davide Frattesi and Retegui both couldn’t make the most of it as they slid into the goal.

Gloukh turned again from a promising position, but Tonali made a poor free throw just inside the penalty area in front of Dor Peretz and earned a penalty. Retegui sent Glazer to the ground with a stuttering run-up before firing it into the top corner and on target in his second consecutive Italy game.

Italy doubled their lead after the break when Raspadori sent a free kick into the box for his Napoli teammate Giovanni Di Lorenzo to direct the header into the ground from six yards. He was captain tonight and scored his first goal since November 2022.

However, Israel once again confirmed their tendency to score in every single Nations League game when Mohammad Abu Fani rolled in straight from the corner flag. Vicario complained about being hindered by Matan Baltaxa, but similar to what we have seen several times for Tottenham this season, the referee and VAR judged this to be appropriate pressure.

A few moments later, Italy almost restored their two-goal lead, but Glazer sensationally parried Alessandro Bastoni’s header with his fingertip.

The goal actually came when Calafiori distributed the move down the left to Dimarco, who rolled to Inter teammate Frattesi and fired the first shot.

Daniel Maldini made history as the first time a family represented Italy for three generations, following in the footsteps of father Paolo – in the stands – and grandfather Cesare.

The 23-year-old made an immediate impact when he sent Destiny Udogie down the left flank, leading to Di Lorenzo’s first brace for Italy.

Italy 4:1 Israel

Retegui pen 41 (It), Di Lorenzo 54, 79 (It), Abu Fani 66 (It), Frattesi 72 (It)

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