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. 

Brace for Di Lorenzo

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.