The rivalry between Germany and Italy is without question one of the biggest in world football. With four FIFA World Cups apiece – including one each won on the other country’s home turf – the sides are both giants of the game, but Germany have every reason for confidence in their upcoming double-header with Italy.
With a perfect record in the Nations League group stage (WW, D2 between September and November), Die Nationalelf rounded out a superb 2024 that saw them lose just once in 15 outings, 2-1 to Spain in the UEFA Euro 2024 quarter-finals. What’s more, Julian Nagelsmann‘s side are on a roll against their transalpine rivals, unbeaten in their last six meetings (W3, D3), a run dating back 13 years.
However, prior to 2012, Italy dominated the fixture for long stretches and to this day boast a winning record of 15 wins, 12 draws and 10 defeats. And, as our round-up of the top 5 clashes between these footballing behemoths will show, you can never count them out…
1) Germany’s biggest win
Germany 5-2 Italy – UEFA Nations League Group Stage 2022/23 – 14 June 2022
It seems that the 1-1 first-leg draw in Bologna on 14 June 2022 was enough for then Germany boss Hansi Flick to set a trap for reigning European champions Italy as they came calling at Borussia-Park in Mönchengladbach 10 days later.
Bayern Munich‘s Joshua Kimmich and ex-Borussia Dortmund star İlkay Gündoğan had Germany up 2-0 by half-time, with Thomas Müller punishing some poor defending to make it 3-0 just minutes after the re-start. Then, just after the hour-mark, Flick brought on Serge Gnabry and the Bayern man brought the struggling Italian defence to its knees, setting up two goals in as many minutes for Timo Werner to make it 5-0.
Although the visitors spared their blushes with two late goals, this masterful performance – Germany’s first-ever regulation-time win over Italy in a competitive match – went down as their equal-biggest in the fixture, matching the scoreline from when Franz Binder bagged a hat-trick in a friendly all the way back in season 1939/40.
