(Football news) A crucial clash between Hungary and Italy on Monday sees the pair battle for a place in next UEFA Nations league summer's finals. While the hosts are two points clear of the European champions at the top of League A Group 3, the Azzurri's win over England means they still have a chance to snatch first place with victory in Budapest. Hungary's record in the Nations league makes for an impressive reading, when the inaugural tournament kicked off in 2018 they started off in the third tier, but successive promotions have seen them rise to League A status and potentially a trip to the finals next year.

The ‘Mighty Magyars' are within touching distance of qualifying for next June's finals as they are making up for their failure to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar. Italy suffered a shock World Cup playoff exit to North Macedonia, but they were also comprehensively beaten in the 'Finalissima' against South American champions Argentina and in their most recent away fixture they lost  5-2 to the Germans. They have managed to win just five from their last 15 matches but there is a slim chance of redemption for a squad that is undergoing a transition before taking the road to Euro 2024. They finished third in the Nations League's previous edition as La Nazionale can yet go further and lift their second trophy in the space of two years.

Hungary possible starting lineup:

Gulacsi; Lang, Orban, At. Szalai; Fiola, Schafer, Gazdag, Kerkez; A. Nagy, Szoboszlai; Ad. Szalai

Italy possible starting lineup:

Donnarumma; Toloi, Bonucci, Bastoni; Di Lorenzo, Barella, Jorginho, Frattesi, Dimarco; Raspadori, Immobile

England and Germany will only play for pride when the two giants meet at Wembley Stadium on Monday night. The Three Lions were relegated to League B after a 1-0 defeat to Italy on Friday night, while Hansi Flick's men saw their hopes of qualifying to the finals crash and burn with a loss to Hungary. The Three Lions are winless after five games in League A Group 3 as Southgate's men have now failed to score in three successive matches for the first time since 2000, and their only goal in the tournament came through Harry Kane's  penalty, which is simply unacceptable for a footballing nation of this calibre.

Defeat to Hungary marked Germany's first defeat in any competition since Euro 2020 and the visitors  have surprisingly only picked up one win from their seven Nations League matches away from home, conceding at least one goal each time. Prior to Szalai’s brilliant goal, Germany's most recent loss came in the Euro 2020 when they lost 2-0 in the round of 16 to England at Wembley 15 months ago, and the two sides played out a 1-1 draw earlier in the Nations League, marking the only goal England have scored this campaign.

England possible starting lineup:

Ramsdale; Stones, Dier, Maguire; Trippier, Rice, Bellingham, Chilwell; Mount; Kane, Sterling

Germany possible starting lineup:

Ter Stegen; Hofmann, Sule, Schlotterbeck, Raum; Kimmich, Gundogan; Musiala, Muller, Sane; Havertz

Also read: Netherlands beat Belgium while Denmark outperform France