UEFA Nations League: Lone Goal Sends Italy To Top Of Group.
Italy moved top of Nations League Group A1 with a deserved 1-0 win over the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Monday.
Italy dominated the game against a Netherlands side who managed only three shots on target throughout a rather blunt display at the Johan Cruijff Arena as they still happen to be looking for a replacement for former head coach Ronald Koeman.
For all of Italy’s control of the game, what was missing was a goal which came in the first minute of injury time when Barella heading in Ciro Immobile’s pinpoint cross as Nathan Ake stood and watched.
The stunning header secured all three points for Roberto Mancini’s men, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday and moved them to the top of their group with four points from two games, one more than the Netherlands, who began the latest Nations League group stage with a 1-0 defeat of Poland.
Elsewhere, Scotland held on for a 2-1 victory over Czech Republic in
League B
Northern Ireland were battered 5-1 at home by Norway.
Results
Monday 7 September
A1 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-2 Poland
A1 Netherlands 0-1 Italy
B1 Austria 2-3 Romania
B1 Northern Ireland 1-5 Norway
B2 Czech Republic 1-2 Scotland
B2 Israel 1-1 Slovakia
C4 Kazakhstan 1-2 Belarus
C4 Albania 0-1 Lithuania
Fixtures
Tuesday 8 September
C2 Armenia vs Estonia (18:00)
C2 Georgia vs North Macedonia (18:00)
A2 Belgium vs Iceland (20:45)
A2 Denmark vs England (20:45)
A3 France vs Croatia (20:45)
A3 Sweden vs Portugal (20:45)
C1 Cyprus vs Azerbaijan (20:45)
C1 Luxembourg vs Montenegro (20:45)
D2 San Marino vs Liechtenstein (20:45)