DORTMUND, Germany, March 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Germany survived a spirited
second-half fightback from Italy, letting a three-goal lead slip to draw 3-3
in Dortmund on Sunday, before reaching the Nations League semi-finals 5-4 on
aggregate.

A first-half Joshua Kimmich masterclass, with a penalty and two assists for
Jamal Musiala and Tim Kleindienst, had Germany 3-0 up and cruising at the
break.

However, injury-hit Italy kicked into gear in the second half, Moise Kean
scoring a double to rattle the hosts.

Italy looked on course to level the scores when they were awarded a penalty
with 73 minutes gone, but it was overturned by VAR.

Giacomo Raspadori then converted a stoppage time penalty to give Italy a
glimmer of hope.

The result not only secured Germany a first-ever Nations League semi-final
spot, where they will face Portugal, but it means the remainder of the
tournament will be held on German soil, in Stuttgart and Munich in June.

Despite the second-half scare, the victory continues Germany's resurgence
under Julian Nagelsmann.

Germany's only loss in their past 17 matches came in extra-time at Euro 2024
against eventual champions Spain in the quarter-finals.

Nagelsmann said Germany "learned lessons for our development" from the game,
adding "we know how well we can play football -- but we have to show it
throughout the game.

"I'm going home with an understanding of what we're capable of, but it's also
nice that we've got a bit more to do," he said.

Italy coach Luciano Spalletti admitted his side lacked "maturity" and said
"you always learn from games like this."

"The second half was very good, but we were too afraid to play like that for
the whole game."

- 'Something impossible' -

Italy travelled to Dortmund, the site of their 2006 World Cup semi-final win
over the same opponents, with a mountain to climb.

After letting a one-goal lead slip to lose in Milan in the first leg, Italy
saw defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Andrea Cambiaso added to an injury list
which already included striker Mateo Retegui and left-back Federico Dimarco.

Spalletti spoke pre-match of needing to do "something impossible" and his
side were up against it from the get-go as Germany burst out of the blocks.

With Musiala on top form and Nico Schlotterback sending in penetrating passes
from the deep, Germany's breakthrough came from the spot.

Alessandro Buongiorno brought down a surging Kleindienst in the box and
Kimmich converted, just the fourth penalty for either club or country in the
30-year-old's career.

After an acrobatic save to keep out a Kleindienst header by Gianluigi
Donnarumma, the quick-thinking Kimmich played the ball fast from the ensuing
corner.

The move caught the Italians napping, with Musiala tapping in from close
range as the Italian goalkeeper was still remonstrating with the referee.
Nagelsmann said the quick thinking was "world-class and unbelievably smart,"
and admitted "I didn't see it at all."

In the final minute of the half, Donnarumma palmed away a Kleindienst header,
but this time could not keep it out, with the home crowd erupting as the
referee pointed to his watch to show the ball had crossed the line.

Germany dropped in intensity in the second half and the Italians pounced,
Kean latching onto a loose ball and blasting home after 49 minutes.

Spalletti brought on Raspadori and the Napoli man had an immediate impact,
threading a pass for Kean to curl a ball past Oliver Baumann's outstretched
arm with 68 minutes played.

The stunned Germans were shocked further five minutes later when they
conceded a penalty, but the spot kick was overturned by VAR.

The Italians did eventually get a spot kick in stoppage time, with Raspadori
converting, but it was too late as Germany held on to progress on aggregate.