(Football news) Italy and England are going to renew hostilities for their UEFA Nations League clash in League A Group 3. The Three Lions are guaranteed to miss out on a place at the Nations League final 4, while Roberto Mancini's side are also three points off Hungary in the Group. The Azzurri will be forced to watch the 2022 World Cup from home after succumbing to a 1-0 playoff defeat to North Macedonia anytime soon, as the 4 time world champions got knocked out by a nation ranked 64th in the world.

From storming to European glory at Wembley in 2021 to failing to qualify for the World Cup for the second consecutive time is quite surprising since Italy won 15 games in a row up until last summer. This year they have just four wins from their last 14 games in all tournaments. Mancini's side were torn to shreds in a 5-2 defeat to Germany in their last Nations league game which subsequently leaves them in third place in the standings. 

England's 4-0  thrashing at the hands of Hungary was unsurprisingly the most shocking result, as Gareth Southgate's men were well and truly humbled at Molineux. Some English fans quickly pointed the finger of blame at the organisers for scheduling four international fixtures in quick succession after a very gruelling domestic campaign. This was England’s heaviest home defeat in 94 years and to send them to the bottom of the pile. Still without a win in the 2022-23 Nations League, the three lions mathematically cannot finish first in League A Group 3 and only have one goal to boast from their four games. Now Southgate will use these matches to test his bench strength before selecting his squad for the World Cup

Italy possible starting lineup:

Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Bonucci, Emerson; Barella, Tonali, Jorginho; Gnonto, Immobile, Grifo

England possible starting lineup:

Ramsdale; James, Tomori, Maguire; Trippier, Rice, Bellingham, Chilwell; Sterling, Kane, Foden

Germany has the chance to move top of Group A3 of the UEFA Nations League if they beat high flyers Hungary on Friday. The visitors surprisingly lead the standings after they beat England 4-0 last time out. Hansi Flick has comfortably won all his seven World Cup qualifiers since he took over the German national team job in August 2021. The Nations League has provided a sterner test for him as gets his players ready ahead of the winter World Cup. Still unbeaten in Flick's 13 matches in charge, Germany can move top of the Group by beating Hungary. 

Last time around Germany only mustered one shot on target against Marco Rossi's side as they will need to show much more invention against a well-disciplined defensive outfit. Rossi and his players will take a lot of confidence after handing England their worst home defeat last time around. Should Hungary do the unthinkable and cause another upset, they will ensure that destiny remains in their own hands and can qualify for the Nations League final.

Germany possible starting lineup:

Neuer; Kehrer, Sule, Rudiger, Raum; Kimmich, Goretzka; Hofmann, Muller, Sane; Werner

Hungary possible starting lineup:

Gulacsi; Lang, Orban, At Szalai; Nego, Schafer, Styles, Fiola; Adam, Szoboszlai; Szalai

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