Di Lorenzo will remember win for rest of his life

UDINE - Italy strengthened their position at the top of Nations League Group A2 on Oct 14 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.

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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 in November will ensure qualification for the quarter-finals.

Luciano Spalletti's swashbuckling Italy are a different side to the team who put in a dismal title defence at the European Championship this past summer.

Another strong performance in which they missed a host of chances to win by an even wider margin was marred by Guglielmo Vicario allowing Mohammad Abu Fani's corner straight past him in the 66th minute.

"We didn't take anywhere near full advantage of what we created.