Italy Faces Germany in Nations League Quarterfinal Amid Player Injuries

MILAN, Italy — Italy will be without key striker Mateo Retegui for both legs of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final against Germany, head coach Luciano Spalletti confirmed on Wednesday. Retegui, Serie A‘s top scorer, suffered a thigh muscle strain and is a late withdrawal from the squad.

The first leg is set to take place at the San Siro on Thursday, March 20, 2025. Spalletti indicated that he would hold off on calling up a replacement until he assesses the conditions of attacking midfielder Mattia Zaccagni and defender Andrea Cambiaso, both of whom are also at risk of missing the match.

“We sent Retegui home because he wouldn’t have made it, but hopefully he will recover with Atalanta for the league,” Spalletti said during a press conference. “He does not have a well-defined problem, but fatigue. For the moment I’m not calling anyone because I want to see how the first challenge goes.”

If necessary, Spalletti mentioned that he would consider calling up either Roberto Piccoli, who has scored seven league goals this season while on loan at Cagliari, or Tommaso Baldanzi, who has shown promise at AS Roma. “Piccoli is a striker who can step up if we need him,” Spalletti added.

While the absence of Retegui poses a challenge for Italy, Spalletti downplayed the significance of Germany’s missing key players, including Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz. “A national team like Germany has no absentees,” he stated. “Who are they? If one winger doesn’t play, they have four or five others of the highest level.”

Spalletti is likely to rely on Moise Kean to lead the attack, regardless of Retegui’s injury, noting Kean’s effective playing style in high-pressure situations. “Kean starts from further out; he comes up against defenders and still manages to finish on goal,” he remarked.

The match carries significant consequences beyond simple playoff progression. Currently, Italy ranks ninth in the FIFA world rankings, closely followed by Germany at tenth. A win would allow Germany to gain crucial points and potentially outpace Italy, while a defeat could complicate their standings.

Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann, despite missing important players, has prepared his side with all available 23 players. “We all got a taste for it at the EUROs,” defender Antonio Rüdiger said, relishing the chance to reach the Final Four of the Nations League. The upcoming match is pivotal as it represents Germany’s first attempt to advance in this international tournament.

“It will be a team full of great quality,” Rüdiger continued. “Italy has always had great defenders. I particularly like Alessandro Bastoni.” With historical rivalries and recent performances on the line, the stakes are exceptionally high for both teams.

The second leg of the quarter-final will occur in Dortmund on Sunday. The winners will host the semi-finals and finals in June 2025. Fans can tune in to watch the live broadcast on ARD starting at 20:45 local time.