Italy impress in goalless draw with Germany

An excellent performance from Italy saw them enjoy the better of the play and the better of the chances against an experimental Germany side, who contributed fully to an entertaining game. Assuming they qualify, both teams will be a serious threat in Russia the summer after next.

Giampiero Ventura ditched the 4-2-4 system that delivered four goals against Lichtenstein, reverting to a 3-4-3; matched against Germany’s 4-6-0, it was hard to see them getting much of the ball in midfield. But they started quickly, Andrea Belotti to the fore, before Germany took over. They could not, though, muster much in the way of chances; forcing Gianluigi Buffon to slide-tackle Yannick Goretzka was the closest they came.

The best chance of the first half fell to Ciro Immobile, racing onto Daniele De Rossi’s first-time through-pass. He had time and space, but the sight of Bernd Leno charging out of his goal for no reason fazed him, and he impatiently lashed wide.

After the break it was more or less all Italy, De Rossi and Marco Parolo dominating midfield. And this time, they created two excellent chances, the first of them dragged straight at the keeper by the substitute Federico Bernardeschi and the second drilled against the post by the outstanding Belotti.

Though Italy could not quite finish the job, they will be justifiably pleased with their performance. If they can improve the service to Belotti, they will be a difficult test for anyone.

After promising to play with width, Giampiero Ventura went into this game without a winger of any description, playing strikers as wide attackers. On the one hand, this gives Italy a greater threat in the penalty box, but on the other, imagine what Andrea Belotti could do with proper service.

ANDREA BELOTTI (Italy) - Perhaps he's just on a good run, but Belotti looks the complete centre-forward. Equally adept coming short or running in behind, his touch play was excellent and he was a constant menace, as well as coming closer than anyone to breaking the deadlock - with a chance he created himself.

Italy: Buffon 6, Rugiani 6, Bonucci 6, Romagnoli 6, Zappacosta 6, De Rossi 7, Parolo 7, Darmian 6, Immobile 6, Belotti 8, Eder . Subs: Donnarumma 6, Astori 6, Bernardeschi 7, Zaza 6, Sasonne 6.

Germany: Leno 6, Kimmich 6, Hummels 6, Mustafi 6, Howedes 6, Weigl 6, Gundogan 6, Goretzka 6, Gerhardt 6, Muller 6, Rudy 6. Subs: Tah 5, Volland 6, Gotze 6.

12 - Germany forage down the right, and suddenly Goretzka finds himself cutting into the box, at an angle! But he's reckoned without Gianluigi Buffon - what a name that is - who slides in with his feet to avert the danger.

25 - Beautiful from De Rossi, taking a square ball from Zappacosta and sweeping a first time pass over the top, into the path of Immobile at inside-right. Leno charges out, and perhaps puts him off, because he could go round him, he could roll it past him if he's quick, but instead he thrashes it high and wide. Capricious behaviour.

27 - Brilliant from Muller, appearing on the right and swerving a spitting, hissing low cross into the corridor of uncertainty. Gerhardt and Gundogan are both there too, but neither can make contact and Buffon dives to gather.

31 - Very nice from Germany, Hummels darting a pass into Gundogan who, 25 yards out, finds Weigl to his right and keeps going, smacking the lofted return on the half-volley. But he can't get a proper connection, and the Buffon gathers easily.

71 - It's all Italy now! Belotti breaks through the centre-circle and spreads left to Immobile, whose low cross is behind him - or, if we're being kind, aimed for Bernardeschi, arriving late. He has time to line up his shot, but spends too long setting his body and drags a tame, low effort right where Leno can sprawl upon it. Best chance of the game, that.

74 - Immobile drifts left again and De Rossi finds him, Howedes blocking his route to goal. So, using him as a screen, he leans left and curls with his right, but this too drifts a few feet wide.

82 - Noooooo! Italy turn Germany's right flank, Bernardeschi turning inside and sending Belotti into the box. Back to goal, he turns on the ball and goes inside then outside Mustafi, half-tricking him and half-bundling through him; it looks for all the world as though he's about to score, eight yards out and with a useful angle. But his low, drilled shot clatters the base of the post and bounces out beyond the man following up.