‘How embarrassing’: Italy are ripped apart by their national press for being humiliated 5-2 by Germany… as media label Nations League defeat a ‘nightmare’ and ‘disaster’
It wasn’t only England and Gareth Southgate who endured a night to forget on Tuesday with Italy also on the receiving end of a heavy defeat in the UEFA Nations League.
Roberto Mancini’s position as Italy boss is increasingly under threat after a year to forget since winning the European Championship last summer.
Germany’s 5-2 win has only intensified the pressure and the Italian press did not hold back in their criticism of the national side on Wednesday morning.
The headline on the front page of La Gazzetta dello Sport read: ‘Italy, how embarrassing’
While Corriere dello Sport’s splash read: ‘Test crash’ as Italian press savaged the national side
The headline on the front page of La Gazzetta dello Sport read: ‘Italy, how embarrassing,’ followed by ‘nightmare evening with the Germans’.
While Corriere dello Sport’s splash read: ‘Test crash’ as Italian fans continued to come to terms with the big loss.
Germany were 5-0 up at Borussia Monchengladbach’s home, with Joshua Kimmich getting the ball rolling in just the 10th minute.
Roberto Mancini’s Italy side were thrashed 5-2 by Germany in the UEFA Nations League
Germany were 5-0 up as they ran riot at Borussia Monchengladbach’s stadium on Tuesday
Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan added their second from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time while Thomas Muller got their third minutes after the restart.
Chelsea striker Timo Werner got in on the act with a brace in the space of just two minutes in the second half.
Wilfried Gnonto scored Italy’s first consolation goal in the 78th minute, before Alessandro Bastoni added a second in added time.
Tuttosport continued to be scathing of Italy’s performance by branding the defeat a ‘disaster’
Tuttosport continued to be scathing of Italy’s performance by branding the Germany defeat a ‘disaster’.
La Gazzetta also tore into Italy’s display by rating five players just four of out of 10 with defenders Bastoni, Leonardo Spinazzola, Davide Calabria, midfielders Bryan Cristante and Davide Frattesi and forward Giacomo Raspadori all given the low score.
It was the first time that Italy had conceded five goals in 65 years and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was not afraid to condemn the performance.
‘We are angry. There are no excuses, we have to get back out there and prove this is not us. There are simply no excuses,’ Donnarumma fumed.
‘We were lacking everything tonight. There was also some fatigue after four games in 15 days at the end of the season, but we don’t want to seek alibis. Now we will look each other in the eye and analyse everything.
‘We’re really disappointed for the fans, for what they saw tonight. We had a few chances, but it’s not good enough. We’ll analyse everything and start again.
‘All of us made mistakes. I could’ve dealt with the situation better at 4-0 and kicked it away, but you learn from mistakes and grow. Now we just have to rest and come back much stronger than this.’
