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England and Italy draw in Nations League, as Germany held by Hungary
CGTN

England are bottom of their UEFA Nations League group without a win after drawing 0-0 with Italy in a repeat of the Euro 2020 final on Saturday, while Germany settled for a point in a 1-1 stalemate in Hungary.

The meeting in Wolverhampton between Gareth Southgate's side and the European champions was played before just 3,000 people, largely schoolchildren, as a punishment for the incidents that marred the Euro 2020 final between the same nations at Wembley last year. 

UEFA rules say a match ordered to be played behind closed doors can still be attended by children accompanied by an adult, as happened last weekend when Hungary beat England in Budapest.

Harry Kane of England (L) and Sandro Tonali of Italy in action during the UEFA Nations League League match in Wolverhampton, UK, June 11, 2022. /CFP

Harry Kane of England (L) and Sandro Tonali of Italy in action during the UEFA Nations League League match in Wolverhampton, UK, June 11, 2022. /CFP

England followed that match by drawing 1-1 in Germany and another draw at the Molineux leaves them bottom of League A, Group 3 with just two points from three outings before they host Hungary at the same venue on Tuesday in their final game of a long campaign. 

Mason Mount hit the bar early on for England, while Aaron Ramsdale produced a fine save to deny Sandro Tonali for an Italy side featuring just two starters who also lined up in the European Championship final. 

"We had two or three really good chances we need to score, but just lacked that sharpness in front of goal," said Southgate.

David Raum of Germany looks dejected after missing a chance during the UEFA Nations League League match against Hungary in Budapest, Hungary, June 11, 2022. /CFP

David Raum of Germany looks dejected after missing a chance during the UEFA Nations League League match against Hungary in Budapest, Hungary, June 11, 2022. /CFP

Roberto Mancini's Italy are rebuilding after failing to qualify for the World Cup and are top of the group after Hungary and Germany cancelled each other out in Budapest. 

Zsolt Nagy gave Hungary an early lead, smashing in after Manuel Neuer had palmed out a Rolland Salai header. 

However, Germany needed just three minutes to draw level as Borussia Moenchengladbach's Jonas Hofmann latched onto a long ball forward and rounded the goalkeeper before slotting in.

Bartosz Bbereszynski of Poland (L) and Davy Klaassen of the Netherlands during the UEFA Nations League match in Rotterdam, Netherlands, June 11, 2022. /CFP

Bartosz Bbereszynski of Poland (L) and Davy Klaassen of the Netherlands during the UEFA Nations League match in Rotterdam, Netherlands, June 11, 2022. /CFP

Meanwhile, the Netherlands are top of League A, Group 4 after coming from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Poland in Rotterdam.

Youri Tielemans gave Belgium the lead early in the second half in Cardiff, but Wales earned their first point of the Nations League campaign as the two teams draw 1-1.

In League B, the Republic of Ireland got their first win in Group 1, beating Scotland 3-0 in Dublin.

In the same group Ukraine got their second win as they beat Armenia 3-0 in a match played in the Polish city of Lodz.

(Cover image: The game between England and Italy during UEFA Nations League League match in Wolverhampton, UK, June 11, 2022. /CFP)

Source(s): AFP

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