November 15, (THEWILL) – Italy advanced to the Nations League quarterfinals following a determined 1-0 victory against Belgium in Brussels on Thursday, with Sandro Tonali marking his international return by scoring the decisive goal.
The Newcastle United midfielder found the net in the 10th minute, recording his first goal for the national team. This achievement holds particular significance given Tonali’s recent 10-month suspension, which began in October 2023 due to his involvement in football betting activities, including matches involving his former club, AC Milan. The suspension prevented his participation in Italy’s European Championship campaign in Germany.
The victory positioned Italy at the summit of Group A2, maintaining a three-point advantage over France. The two nations will contest the group’s top position at the San Siro in their upcoming fixture. Italy required only a draw from either their match against Belgium or their forthcoming encounter with France to guarantee progression to the knockout stages.
Belgium, managed by Domenico Tedesco, encountered difficulties throughout the match, despite creating notable opportunities. Romelu Lukaku, wearing the captain’s armband in his first international appearance since the European Championships, missed a crucial chance in the 78th minute. The hosts’ final meaningful attempt came through Wout Faes, whose header struck the post with seven minutes remaining.
Under the guidance of Luciano Spalletti, Italy has demonstrated considerable improvement throughout the Nations League campaign. The team remains undefeated since their European Championship exit, where they were eliminated by Switzerland in the round of 16.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
