Belgium vs Italy

Ready to earn a result against Belgium in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday, Italy needs one point to reach the final stage in League A Group 2.

The Italians just need to ensure the Belgians do not win at Stade Roi Baudouin, whilst for the hosts it is do or die because they have claimed only four points.

Belgium was facing its neighbors France for the second time within a month in Group 2 of the qualifying round in hopes of overcoming the French team after disappointing losses in the Nations League and Euro 2024 qualifier.

However, the Red Devils fell to a 2 – 1 defeat at the end of the entertaining football match that saw the young Youri Tielemans blast a penalty kick and Lois Openda scoring in the first half of the additional time just before either half or Randal Kolo Muani who scored two goals in the match eventually took Brussels to victory.

After Belgium earned a 2-2 draw in Milan this past October has only one victory to date, which was 3-1 over Israel in September and that match was made on the neutral ground.

Currently sitting third, they are five points behind France and six below Italy, and while Domenico Tedesco’s side are seemingly en route to a relegation playoff match, this will decide if they remain in League A or not.

A top-two finish is required to reach the knockout phase for a second time - in 2019, Belgium lost a third-place playoff to Italy in the finals - so their task is straightforward on Thursday: they can only afford to draw or lose to stand any chance of making it to the knock out stage.

It would leave Italy needing one more victory to take it to Sunday’s climax when they will entertain rock-bottom Israel in Hungary- but the Belgians have been unable to claim a win over the Italians in a competitive context since 1972.

New-look Italy has been a breath of fresh air in Group 2 thus far, accumulating 10 points out of a possible 12 to come within a whisker of making progress after putting up a lackluster defense of their championship at the Euros.

By avoiding a loss to Belgium, who they let off the hook last month after surrendering a two-goal lead after Lorenzo Pellegrini was sent off, they will go to the quarterfinals.

Even with that point, they were still leading the table. The Azzurri defeated Israel 4-1 in Udine with ease, thanks to goals from Serie A's Capocannoniere rankings leader Mateo Retegui and an improbable brace from Giovanni Di Lorenzo.

Italy rebounded admirably after giving up the opening goal of the season within 13 seconds at Parc des Princes. They swiftly adjusted to Luciano Spalletti's new tactical style, and their incredible comeback victory versus France was undoubtedly the impetus for what was to happen.

The fact that they have another tantalizing match against Les Bleus on Sunday night at San Siro will relieve some of the burden on a team that is younger than in previous La Nazionale seasons, even if they are unable to complete the task by midweek.

As players like Retegui, Alessandro Bastoni, and Sandro Tonali spearhead Spalletti's change, captain Gianluigi Donnarumma, 25, is essentially an elder statesman in the locker room.