Very strange six goal Germany v Italy thriller as Sandro Tonali back down to earth | OneFootball

Sandro Tonali was back in action on Sunday night, Italy playing Germany in Dortmund in the second leg of this Nations League play-off.

The first leg at the San Siro had seen the Newcastle United running the show for Italy, easily their best player.

A real game of two halves in Milan on Thursday when Sandro Tonali scored in the ninth minute and created some great chances for teammates when they should have been a few goals up by the break. Only for Germany to bounce back and score two to win the game in the second half, as two headed goals from crosses exposed once again the defensive frailties for Italy.

It was very much once again a game of two halves on Sunday, however, this time Germany dominated the opening half and it was in the opening 45 where Italy really fell to pieces at the back and gifted the home side goals.

Moise Kean’s brace and a Giacomo Raspadori penalty let Italy come back from 3-0 down to hold Germany 3-3 after a disastrous first half performance.

Germany had been well on top and creating chances as Italy were forced back, Sandro Tonali doing really well to charge down a Jamal Musiala effort which was heading into the back of the net.

After half an hour though the self-inflicted wounds were once again opened up, as Buongiorno fouled Kleindeinst and Joshua Kimmich scored the penalty.

Then as Germany pressed for more goals, a truly embarrassing moment for Donnarumma. The Italy keeper tipping a Kleindienst header over the bar, but rather than preparing for the corner, the PSG goalkeeper rushed some ten yards out to argue with his defenders about how Germany had nearly doubled their lead. As he was doing that, Germany did double their lead. Kimmich taking the corner quickly and and as Donnarumma was still too busy arguing with his teammates in the middle of the penalty area, the corner found Musiala who had an open goal from six yards out.

Then just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, it was three goals in a quarter of an hour for Germany. Italy lost the ball when trying to play it out from the back and Kimmich crossed for Kleindienst to score just before the break.

Amazingly though, it became yet another massive game of two halves.

Davide Frattesi came off the bench and immediately missed a golden chance but then Kean did score to pull it back to 3-1 on 49 minutes.

Sandro Tonali hadn’t played badly but maybe his energy levels not quite there after a full on week, last Sunday winning at Wembley with Newcastle United and then playing the full match in Milan on Thursday against Germany.

No surprise when Tonali was subbed off on 68 minutes for a well earned rest and immediately the change paid dividends. The Newcastle midfielder’s replacement Giacomo Raspadori set up Kean to score his second, within seconds of coming onto the pitch.

A totally different game as bizarrely Italy all over Germany in this second half and having survived numerous scares, Germany conceded a third when VAR spotted a penalty infringement in added time and Raspadori converted to make it 3-3 on the night and only 5-4 on aggregate in favour of Germany. However, it wasn’t to be, despite more pressure in the very final stages the German goal survived.

Sandro Tonali has ten days between this Germany game and Newcastle facing Brentford on Wednesday 2 April, a chance to get a little rest and recovery, before preparing for the Premier League run-in with his NUFC teammates.

This is the March 2025 international schedule for Newcastle United players:

Thursday 20 March

Italy 1 Germany 2

Sandro Tonali man of the match for Italy in this Nations League play-off first leg.

Scored a very well taken ninth minute goal and ran the show for Italy, creating great chances for teammates that were wasted. Germany fighting back though to win it with two second-half goals.

Greece 0 Scotland 1

Odysseas Vlachodimos dropped to the bench, presumably due to getting no football with Newcastle United. Scotland scoring with one of only two shots on target to get a surprise win in the first leg of this Nations League play-off, McTominay from the penalty spot.

Slovakia 0 Slovenia 0

A great display from Martin Dubravka with some fine saves, to help keep Slovakia on level terms in the first leg of this Nations League play-off.

Brazil 2 Colombia 1

Bruno Guimaraes started and Joelinton replaced an injured Gerson on 28 minutes. A massive win in this World Cup group qualifier, Brazil now second in the South American qualifying group and now looking all but certain to be in those 2026 finals. A sixth minute penalty from Raphinha was equalised by Diaz just before half-time, Vinicius Junior with a dramatic late deflected winning in the ninth minute of added time.

Friday 21 March

England 2 Albania 0

A cool finish on his debut by Lewis-Skelly in the 20th minute gave England the lead, then Harry Kane confirmed the win with his latest international goal on 77 minutes. Dan Burn can be happy with his contribution overall and it could have been so much better if his header from a first half corner had hit the back of the net instead of the crossbar. Injury concerns though for Anthony Gordon who came on in the 74th minute for Rashford but left the pitch at the end with a potential hip injury. Tino Livramento an unused sub in this World Cup group qualifier.

Saturday 22 March

Luxembourg 1 Sweden 0

A friendly that Alexander Isak and Sweden were second best in, as Korac gave the home side a 23rd minute lead. The Newcastle United striker seeing a number of efforts blocked and/or saved, before subbed off on 61 minutes. Defeat in Luxembourg coming six days after that stunning victory at Wembley. Funny old game.

Sunday 23 March

Germany 3 Italy 3

Sandro Tonali maybe feeling the effects of a third huge game in the space of a week, as his energy levels not quite there maybe. He didn’t have a bad game but he and his teammates found themselves three down at half-time, with some appalling defending going on behind Sandro Tonali at the back. An astonishing turn around saw Italy dominate after the break and pull three goals back, however, this Nations League play-off ending 5-4 on aggregate to Germany. Tonali having been subbed off in the 68th minute when Italy were 3-1 down.

Monday 24 March

England v Latvia (Tino Livramento and Dan Burn, with Anthony Gordon having been forced to pull out of the squad through injury) World Cup group qualification