🔴Israel vs Italy | UEFA Nations League 2024 | Group Stage

and we have in front of us this gloriously imposing Arena absolutely picture perfect for a game of this nature things have got under way here pretty promptly so Jim who would you identify as the key man in this fixture yeah Lorenzo inor one thing he excels at is cutting inside from that left wing Peter to take a shot with his right he's far from a one- trick pony though and he's is really good at varying his game depending on how the opposition are are shaping up usually he finds space and he does something very good with it yeah hard to see past him he'll be looking to put on a show I'm certain of that Sho and here's he hard too yeah that's top defending in preventing him turning varying his game depending on how the opposition are are shaping up usually find space and he does something very good with it past him he'll be looking to put on a show I'm certain of that Shino and here's it's had too SP Sola goes yeah that's top defending in preventing him turning varying his game depending on how the opposition are are shaping up usually he find space and he does something very good with it to see him he'll be looking to I'm certain of thato and here's he had to go Sol goes yeah that's top defending in preventing him turning with varying his game depending on how the opposition are are shaping up usually he finds space and he does something very good with it hard to seeast him hoists it forward has he found his man and here's iMobile back into the middle he's there to receive it remov unable to make it happen for all his good intentions tries to get it Forward quickly Kini spinat Sola and it's played forward Insignia with the Cross Field ball barard collects the ball from behind now it's immobile oh denied brilliantly immobile is very sporting here to acknowledge the quality of the save a lovely little footballing moment [Music] Insignia plays it short goes for the cross last ditch defending but that'll [Music] do jinho tries to switch the play Insignia pumps it into the area seems now to be all about width well when you have the Personnel to create in white areas then they need to see as much of the ball as possible that's the [Applause] throw up towards the front line bonucci positions himself well and cuts it out forward it goes and it's immobile that's great strength on the ball and for a moment time Stood Still well I think the opposition was pretty sloppy in creating a problem for themselves then but he was onto it so quickly and very nearly made them pay they've played it short and here's insia oh that's neat florenzi now it's paradi barard regardless of the outcome it is good to see someone running at the defense like that in with the challenge a super tackle they were outnumbered and under the C that had to be spot on and it was bonucci and it's played forward and it's immobile zahavi pushes to get on the end of it Insignia Insignia goes looking danger averted for now tries to get it Forward [Applause] quickly drives it towards the front Israel still without an attempt on target and here's insia and here's inia lovely bit of skill there Insignia goes to the Cross Italy clearly seemed to have lost their passing accuracy something they're obviously going to have to fix pretty quickly now [Music] and back to base hoist It Forward great strength too strong for his opponent bonucci florenzi face it over to the other flank now it's sahav chance to break flings in across whipped it again that right side seems to have become a very good outlet for them now no doubt this is an area they've identified as a potential weakness in their opposition and they're willing to exploit it well the defense have two choices deal with the man or or deal with the space Oh shooting chance and it's played forward tries to get it for forward quickly Kini gets it back lenzo Ina pinged forward Kini does well to read it and intercepts that a foul yes the referee's given it and it's locatelli plays it out to the wing oh that is lovely footwork jinho and here's insa now surely here it comes they didn't manage to get nearly enough into the box and that speaks of little ambition tries to locate someone up front spinet Sola battles to win it back Lorenzo Ina jinho and here's IM moile well the crowd clearly like what they just saw some real knownsense defending keeps everyone guessing and that's been repelled Shino and here [Music] immobile Ah that's great defending to cover for the goalkeeper and just get something in the way Kini has given away a free kick [Music] got a shot away I really don't think you could expect anything better from the goalkeeper then we're near heroic territory and it's florenzi lops it in gently played into space out wide and that's the end of that it all started well enough immobile now it's florenzi a really good feat and here's florenzi beautifully done can he deliver barard barard towering header they've done it looks offside I think yep the flag is up oh his goal scoring celebrations are going to be cut short the flag was up for offside even if the referee didn't spot it straight away disappointment and relief on either side nothing doing Shino Kini 5 minutes till the break and it's barard in Comes The Croc gets up to head it good delivery and no joy I have to commend the wing plate but I have to condemn the defending they've got to stop the cross it's being played forward that's been intercepted and that will come to nothing can he chance oh he couldn't get hold of it oh no that was a chance what a chance looking Cross Field changing the point of attack promising move that good inroad into enemy territory but no [Applause] joy florenzi florenzi goes looking cross the field it goes Kyle forward it [Applause] goes bonucci and the referee brings the first half to a close so both sides have drawn blanks they have toiled at times but it's not been a bad game by any means some first half thoughts Israel were actually very good on the front foot in the first half even if they have nothing to show for it no goals at this stage but certainly not devoid of action it is nil nil here at halftime we're promptly into the second 45 minutes well that first 45 minutes didn't deliver as we'd hoped lots of effort but a a lack of quality with the finishing has left us hoping that someone can step up and produce something a little more magical looking for a decent ball [Applause] in well that's the first attempt Peter we've seen at one of those breaking passes just to spread the [Music] [Applause] play good challenge he just stood firm and it's played forward well the moans and groans from the stands now are very audible tries to get it Forward quickly bonucci Kini spinat Sola Insignia Insignia switches it towards the other side he's got the ball glued to his [Music] feet and he just whacks it away so here comes a substitution [Music] kesa aimed in towards the center now a chance to [Music] break well that's where he wants it questions were asked but he's given the answers bonucci florenzi florenzi drives It Forward Kiza Maks it over to the other flank that is terrific skill Elli and it's shinho shoots that's got a rattled hoist It Forward folini cuts it out Kiza now it's immobile jinho tries to switch the play up towards the hour mark and still no goals good ball it's found its time it's immobile he's done very well to get to that immobile sparked a tremendous stop there and I think it's fair to add he just wasn't expecting it and that's been lever clear hoist it forward dinks one in dangerous looking ball and it's come to nothing well I'm not quite sure he needed to Hold Up play quite as much as he did then a couple of his teammates were very annoyed and it's immobile and he's away well waited IM immobile another save yeah while he won't be happy with someone the defending in front of him he can hold his head high that was a fantastic [Applause] stop Italy making consecutive changes here managed to get it away Sahari oh well intercepted really alert to the danger looking Cross Field changing the point of attack florenzi kesa kesa plays it in over to the left chinho florenzi he's got options out wide some good work on the right flank now what's next and it's hoisted clear just brushed off the ball there whistle gone that's a [Applause] foul well that's a booking always looked it the players are making their point but the ref clearly isn't interested he's waved them all away well it was deliberate it was cynical and you have to understand the frustration of been denied a clear opportunity but it had to be done Insignia and the followup and the balls come out well that wasn't too dissimilar to the previous attempt they're just lacking a Cutting Edge Peter and while that's fairly obvious the rest of their attacking play is actually quite good knocks it away and it's shinho gets good distance on [Applause] it got a throw in oh nice t that intervention was very necessary tries to get it Forward quickly well played he saw that coming jinho it is still anyone's game nil nil play for a throw Natco Kyle well positioned to make that interception defense has got rid of that cross the field it goes that's a throw Wht in Timely intervention jinho kza with the Cross Field ball Insignia that'll run down the left wing Fetti looks to bypass the Midfield Marco Veri geino plays it out to the flank tries to get it clear oh sweet feet a chance to play it in he's had a shot a real chance and a real let off oh I'm not sure what he had in mind and I don't think he knew either [Applause] [Music] [Applause] forward it goes Kiza looking Cross Field changing a point of attack Insignia spinat Sola [Music] Natco it's going to be another throw and it's played forward into the last quarter of an hour Kini attempts a clearance concentration levels are very good and so is the commitment this game could yet yield a winner and that's sprayed out wide look this can still go either way it might be flowing one way but there's still time for some e and that's been one straight back kesa played out to the right get it into the middle defending of the desperate variety fired in lovely bit of skill out to the right FL up for the header and oh he's got that complete me [Music] [Applause] wrong forward it goes K up and it's florenzi and helps available out wide cleared without complication florenzi knocks it away Italy Merit full marks for their attitude and application in trying to win this in it means an awful lot [Applause] obviously tries to get it Forward quickly oh good interception Marco varasi Kiza Italy showing a good level of intensity at this stage they're calling on all their resources now florenzi kesa well both sides might have to settle for a draw here although there's still a chance for one last fling it's immobile oh that is rather wayward final checks on the touch line a change about to occur well he's worked so hard for his side uh as you would expect but he couldn't help notice that he was starting to to labor a bit so it's no surprise spinat Sola Marco verati and it's played forward badesi florenzi Shino K you wonder if that's it now but there may be one more opportunity Peter for a late late steal here kza Mak it over to the other flank batesi cross deflected behind for a corner Italy making another change here yeah he's run himself into the ground hasn't he and it's it's good to see that the crowd appreciate his efforts because he has put in a real honor shift that out to safety kesa no fouls the referee ball needed to be better there it's a wasted chance florenti Kiza jinho Italy have to get it into the box and quickly a real chance to break Kyle zahavi desperately wants to get on the end of this and that is it there will be penalties yeah neither side has anything to show show for some Splendid effort and they certainly aren't showing any signs of easing off so we remain optimistic and so they prepare themselves to settle it from the spot real tension here then as the first man readies himself so the first penalty and he's found the net oh that was a great strike he just gave the keeper absolutely no chance immobile focusing on where he puts it cooly done what each always a little more pressure when you're trailing but it didn't show so the second man in line Keepers read that beautifully oh that's a super save from The Keeper berneski is the second man to step up for his team oh it's saved pretty much straight at him well that was right down the Keeper's stroat it was an easy save to make in the end zahavi is third in line oh what a save was so focused there fantastic save the third man in the queue it's in and the keeper could have done better Israel in search of parity oh good take keeper committed himself brilliantly done never took his eye off the keeper either well he strolled up and struck that with great confidence that's a superb spot kick Israel have to score or they have had it it's in he's kept the in it well it's never easy to step up and take a penalty but he slaughtered that home with authority that's it it is done so after a grueling game that went all the way the winner is decided on penalties it is a horrible way to lose and they are heartbroken ah commiserations there's the whistle who do you Jim see making the difference here yeah Giorgio kolini he's the very definition of a rock at the back he's so physically imposing but also a great reader of The Game and his positioning is usually spoton the technical side of Defending doesn't often get a mention but just watch this guy's tackles if you want a great display of time and precision he does it best yeah I must agree especially in view of his ability to lead and organize the [Applause] defense Elli a good run down the left hand side immobile shinho parar florenzi gorgeous control there there are a few waiting for it [Applause] batelli chance and here's insia chance to break tries to get it Forward quickly Kini gets rid without sophistication Kyle deob jino out to the right he's got through and that has been cleared Matco drives it forward and it's sahav and the counter is on and back to base bonucci Kini melli Kini hoists it forward and here's him MO Lorenzo Ina locatelli out towards the [Applause] flank well there's a lot of movement out wide now yeah you can certainly see that well I think it's a move to open the game up more whether out wide or just getting a runner through the middle now and it's played forward back to the keeper and try something new bonucci looking Cross Field changing the point of attack and it's barard it's a good looking cross and through to the goalkeeper away from immediate in Elli forward it goes Lorenzi face it over to the other [Applause] flank Shino florenzi aimed in towards the center well when the options aren't quite present in the Box it's the Crosser interest to uh to hold on for the support zahavi looks to get on the end of this Shino bonucci switches it towards the other side tries to locate someone up front bonucci Israel yet to have a shot on target forward it goes tries to switch the play oh that's nice can he deliver locatelli LS it out to the wing and he's there to clear it he's gone for it it's oh that is asking for trouble tries to get it Forward quickly some good work on the right flank now what's next it's a great Gallop down the right hand side played into the middle tries to get it clear Elli and it's insa spinat Sola keeps everyone guessing so who's he picking out out to the left it goes florenzi hit into the middle good clearance and very necessary oh real danger here shinho barari geino plays it out to the flank across the field it goes oh they can break here he's through the middle gets the bat has a hit goal [Applause] Israel well I think there's a few trying to claim offside but he looks to have been on yeah he was on [Applause] so we have our breakthrough yeah and they know there's plenty of work left in this one Peter before they can actually say that the job is over now it's Insignia Insignia diving H oh that's a terrific save from The Keeper oh that's a spark spling save absolutely sparkling his reflexes work Ultra sharp referee's given a throw now it's sahabi he's had to go looking back on that it was some save and potentially a big moment for the keeper and his team florenti florenti drives It Forward gets it back Natco sahav it's being played [Applause] forward keeper got good distance on that good challenge CH he just stood firm Natco ties lifting it over BCI attempts a clearance hoists It Forward managed to get it away and it's played forward oh smart save and it's Natco oh sweet feet a chance to play it in powering header no he couldn't get the direction he needed Italy can defend those situations better by stopping the Crosser at source [Music] Elli hardly anything between the sides and it's 1 n quick ball forward oh well intercepted really alert to the danger Lorenzo insigna insigna with the Cross Field ball a really good feat ball swung in knocks it away Shino and here's IM moile yeah that's top defending in preventing him turning which can open up many possibilities geino plays it over to the other flank and it's inia back into the middle spinat Sola and here's inia plenty waiting in the middle whipped in looks to bypass the Midfield hoist it forward jinho locatelli and that's sprayed out wide spinat Sola pumps it into the area [Applause] florenzi Kini forward pass BCI cats it out jinho forward it goes over to the left Lorenzo Ina oh great defending that needed doing bonucci does well there referee's had a look and he's B his whistle for halftime so there you have it a close SP half of football that still had its moments but ultimately produced just one goal a decent game up to now Reflections on the first half a lead that's fully Justified for me they've shown some excellent counterattacking now and it's paying dividends Israel go in halim with a slender one-goal lead so we're already into the second period a solitary goal that has been the crucial difference Natco well that's where he wants it Kini gets into the right position to intercept florenzi florenzi switches it towards the other side spineta and now they can launch a counter Kyle gets his foot in there he ran himself into trouble there free kick given [Music] away he gets a ticking off and needs to be very careful now he just needs to find the control button on his aggression before the ref does it for him Peter [Applause] and it's hoisted clear Kyle and it's Natco he's got options in the box if he gets his head up repelled by The Keeper Natco that's great strength on the ball another chance oh just lacked a decent Finish Well his reaction to that was Ultra sharp Peter his anticipation is in fine working order florenzi barardi florenzi tries to switch the play Lorenzo Ina spinat Sola jino and here's IM moile he come loose and here's IM moile and again they run up against stubborn defending dashing forward at PACE florenzi battles to win it back and here's IM moile he'll have a go oh that's a waste they're probably getting frustrated by the lack of chances I suppose ball needed to be better there it's a wasted chance Marco varasi and it's peradi looking Cross Field changing the point of attack Marco Veri nicely controlled imov HS to play it back Shino teams still separated by The Game's only goal and here's perard Marco RI Kini plays It Forward has brushed off the ball there barar great strength too strong for his opponent pinged forward oh good interception jino tries to get it Forward quickly and it's paradi Marco Veri played out to the right gets it into the middle and that has been cleared so now we're going to get those changes we have been expecting well it's good stuff this is better well hit and hope is just about the sum of it isn't it Jim spot on Peter jinho drives It Forward Natco gets it back immobile L towards the front men he's made sure that that won't get through across the field it goes Marco Veri and it's insa it's got through Lorenzo insa into the box your impression so far Jim I think the manager's pondering his options as to whether to stick or twist Peter in view of of the time remaining he might have a a tough call to make now a really good feat from him Kini battles to it back kesa florenzi cut out in the nick of time Italy keeping their men at arms length here yeah I just think it's a a conservative move to deny Runners the opportunity of of going beyond that rear guard Puchi zahavi pushes to get on the end of it Israel clearly seemed to have lost their passing accuracy something they're obviously going to have to fix pretty quickly now Kini and it's Ina Marco varasi shinho plays it out to the flank florenzi with the cross and it's hoisted clear played out to the right lovely bit of skill there time to deliver they're playing a guessing game Peter without any answers and the lack of quality is just there for everyone to see a repri or beit it perhaps momentary Natco Kyle forward it [Applause] goes tries to get it Forward quickly and that has been cleared hoist It Forward spatola spinat Sola plays it forward barati tries to switch the play kesa looks to clip it Forward lofted into the middle Peter they have to fight the onset of desperation and keep enough cool heads immobile oh should have been The Equalizer well the lead may be fragile but the keeper was focused and strong knocks it away turns and goes back and it's florenzi has a look and place it in he's there to get rud Italy are definitely not going down without a scrap their attitude just can't be faulted spin Sola spineta goes looking insia plays it over to the other flank gets wrestled off the ball he certainly caught him there it's a free kick defending of the desperate variety keep calm and carry on that's the job in a nutshell now and it's played forward Kiza Italy are actually displaying tremendous fighting Spirit there's a real belief that they can still have a say bonucci still just that single goal and we are nearly done done very well to intervene steered forward questions were asked but he's given the answers hoist It Forward Marco Veri out to the right right oh that is lovely footwork insia with a shot cleared away keep calm and carry on that's the job in a nutshell now has he picked him [Music] [Applause] out looking for a decent ball in Kyle and here's sahav I think it's time for them to concentrate on closing this one out kesa aimed in towards the center Italy need to give it everything they have kitchen sink included zahavi looks to get on the end of this Israel are on the verge of a pretty special win that they've got some hanging on to do here benucci Israel need to hold on for a few more moments well he's worked so hard for his side uh as you would expect but you couldn't help notice that he was starting to to labor a bit so it's no surprise forward it goes spineta Marco Veri butki Italy have a simple task to find something sustained now and keep the pressure on it really is now or never they need a goal ever it comes look with time running out they have to get the ball in the Penalty Box and if it means a long punt then still be it they've got to give themselves a chance spinat Sola they seem to have lost their sense of direction uh it should be higher up the pitch well that's where he wants it so that's it it is all over Israel win it by the only goal result no question the most important thing however it came final score 1 n any reflection