Italy strengthened their position at the top of Nations League Group A2 on Monday by thumping Israel 4-1 in Udine, where ramped up security was put in place for the away side’s first match of 2024 outside Hungary.

Mateo Retegui’s penalty four minutes from half-time, a brace from captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Davide Frattesi’s 72nd-minute strike moved Italy to 10 points from four unbeaten matches.

The Azzurri are six points ahead of third-placed Belgium, who lost 2-1 to France, and a draw against either the Red Devils or the French next month will ensure qualification for the quarter-finals.

Luciano Spalletti’s swashbuckling Italy are a different side to the one which put in a dismal title defence at the European Championship this past summer.

Another strong performance in which they missed a host of chances to win by an even wider margin was marred by Guglielmo Vicario allowing Mohammed Abu Fani’s corner straight past him in the 65th minute.

“We didn’t take anywhere near full advantage of what we created. To get in front of their goalkeeper so often wasn’t easy because they sat deep and finding space was hard,” said Spalletti to RAI.

“We had plenty of chances to score more goals but it’s OK. You can make mistakes but we reacted well.”

Di Lorenzo was ecstatic at his double, a neat header from Napoli teammate Giacomo Raspadori’s free-kick in the 54th minute and a drilled effort which rounded off the scoring 11 minutes from the end.

The 31-year-old had a dreadful Euros and was roundly criticised by media and fans after a series of awful performances.

“Tonight was already special with having the captain’s armband… I’ll remember this night for the rest of my life,” he said.

HIGH SECURITY

Israel, who had played all their previous fixtures in Hungary due to the security situation in the Middle East, stay bottom of the group without a single point but are not yet relegated to League B as they trail Belgium by four points with two fixtures remaining.

Udine was placed on high alert for the match, with the area around the stadium cordoned off by a series of barriers, extra security checks and an off-limits “red zone” which was created some 48 hours before kick-off.

Israel has been at war with Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas since the latter staged the deadliest-ever attack on Israel on October 7 last year.

But the drastically increased levels of security, including police brought in from neighbouring regions of northern Italy and soldiers on the stadium roof, and blaring headlines in local media about a “bunker city” were out of step with the largely relaxed atmosphere around Udine.

Hours before the match pro-Palestine demonstrators — estimated by police to be around 2,000 people — marched through central Udine flanked by a huge numbers of police, whose helicopter kept an eye on the city from above.

The peaceful demonstrators, including members of local Palestinian communities, were not just protesting against Israel but in some cases also demanding that world governing body FIFA suspend the country from football participation.

Earlier this month FIFA made no verdict on a Palestinian request to exclude Israel, instead launching committee investigations to inform an eventual decision.

Meanwhile, the majority in the sparsely-populated stadium replied to weak jeers from some home fans of the pre-match Israel team announcement by breaking out into a round of applause in support of their guests.

The crowd did the same again for Israel’s national anthem, although there were some whistles while a small section of Italy supporters stayed seated until their own nation’s anthem.

Randal Kolo Muani bagged a brace on Monday night as France edged past Belgium 2-1 to maintain their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Nations League.

The Paris Saint-Germain striker opened the scoring in the 35th minute from the penalty spot after Wout Faes handled the ball in the penalty area.

It was a harsh blow for the hosts who had dominated play at the Koning Boudewijnstadion in Brussels and fluffed a penalty of their own following William Saliba’s ungainly lunge on Lois Openda midway through the first-half.

To Saliba’s relief, Belgium skipper Youri Tielemans blasted his effort over the bar of France goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

But on the stroke of half-time, Openda atoned for Tielemans’ inaccuracy with a header past Maignan.

France emerged for the second period with more bite and intent. They pinned the Belgians back into their own half and took the lead when Kolo Muani headed Lucas Digne’s cross from the left wing past the Belgium goalkeeper Koen Casteels.

Aurélien Tchouaméni’s expulsion in the 76th minute for a second yellow card changed the the complexion of the tie as France tried to hold on to their advantage and Belgium pressed for the equaliser.

SOLIDITY

Didier Deschamps’ men held on for the victory and need a point from their next match against Israel on 14 November to advance to the last eight.

“We really suffered at the end when we were down to 10 men,” said France defender Ibrahima Konaté.

“But the defence held firm and the goalkeeper made some key saves.

“We obviously need to improve the things that didn’t go well in this match but the most important thing to savour is the three points.”

Italy moved into the last eight from Group 2 in League A with a 4-1 romp past Israel at the Stadio Friuli in Udinese.

Mateo Retegui scored Italy’s first from the penalty spot just before half-time and Giovanni Di Lorenzo doubled the advantage just after the pause.

But Israel sewed doubt among the hosts when Mohammad Abu Fani halved the deficit midway through the second-half.

Davide Frattesi restored the two-goal advantage in the 72nd minute and Di Lorenzo added the gloss 11 minutes from time.

 A 63-minute rocket from debutant Jamie Leweling gave Germany a 1-0 win over a limp Netherlands in Munich on Monday and a first appearance in the Nations League knockout rounds.

The Stuttgart forward was called off the bench after an injury to club teammate Deniz Undav in the warm-up.

Leweling had an early goal ruled out for the tightest of offsides before blasting in a loose ball from a Joshua Kimmich corner.

A beaming Leweling told Germany’s ZDF network “we won as a team, I scored the 1-0, we won 1-0, but we did well and I’m just happy I could help out.

“The Dutch are a top nation, but we played a good game nevertheless. We used the chances that we had well.”

Captain Kimmich told reporters the side were proud to overcome a long injury list.

“There were just three players on the field in comparison to five weeks ago against Holland (a 2-2 draw in the Netherlands), that’s why we are proud of what we did.

“You could see how happy we are, how proud we are of the performance today.

“We had lots of new players, some young players, unfortunately lots of injuries but you didnt notice much of a difference.

“Jamie had an outstanding debut — it’s not often the Allianz Arena gives you a reception like that — he did well.”

Dutch captain Stefan de Vrij told UEFA “this wasn’t the game we wanted. We know Germany have a very strong team. We have to analyse and improve.

“We’re confident about our Nations League chances. Next month will be crucial, especially the first game against Hungary, but we will stay positive and try and win those games.”

Oliver Baumann, at 34 the oldest debutant goalie in Germany history, pulled off a spectacular save from Donyell Malen in the final minute to protect Germany’s victory.

The Netherlands, missing suspended captain Virgil van Dijk, were poor until the dying stages. They stayed second in the group but only on goal difference ahead of Hungary, who beat Bosnia 2-0.

GERMAN FAREWELL

Before the match, the hosts bid farewell to international veterans Manuel Neuer, Thomas Mueller, Ilkay Gundogan and Toni Kroos, who have all stepped down since the home Euros in the summer.

Since starting his reign one year ago to the day with a 3-1 away win over the United States, coach Julian Nagelsmann has been willing to ignore big names in favour of in-form players.

Injuries to key players including Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen forced Nagelsmann into seven changes, the injury to Undav, who scored both goals in Germany’s win over Bosnia on October 11, forced a last-minute reshuffle.

The coach gave Leweling and Oliver Baumann their first caps, while Aleksandar Pavlovic and Angelo Stiller started for the first time.

Leweling appeared to have started his Germany career perfectly when he gave the hosts the lead after just two minutes, but a lengthy video review found Serge Gnabry offside in the build-up.

Despite pressing the Dutch into a series of mistakes playing out from goal, Germany failed to carve another clear opportunity in the first half.

The visitors posed little threat to debutant Baumann’s goal, failing to register a shot in the first half.

Leweling’s stunning strike jolted the match into life with just under half an hour remaining.

Xavi Simons rattled the crossbar late as the Dutch hinted at a possible comeback, with Malen also going close but failing to break through.