Italy earn UEFA Nations League bronze medal for 2nd time

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Italy won the bronze medal in the UEFA Nations League for the second time after beating hosts the Netherlands 3-2 in Sunday's third-place playoff in Enschede.

The Italian national team were previously third in the 2021 contest.

On Sunday, Federico Dimarco and Davide Frattesi scored for Italy as the Azzurri took a 2-0 lead at Twente Stadium on the 20-minute mark.

Cody Gakpo had a golden opportunity to get the Netherlands back into the game five minutes before half-time.

Dutch winger Steven Bergwijn struck in the 68th minute to give hope to the hosts.

However a few minutes later Italian forward Federico Chiesa scored as the Azzurri were on a 3-1 lead.

In the 89th minute, Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum scored a late consolation after a teamwork to name the result 3-2 for Italy.

Roberto Mancini's men survived in the rest of the time to claim a Nations League bronze again.

Later on Sunday, Croatia will face Spain in the Nations League final in the Netherlands' Rotterdam.

This year's final at Rotterdam's Feyenoord Stadium will start at 1845GMT.

UEFA's biennial international football competition, the Nations League, which was launched in 2018, was previously won by Portugal in 2019, and France in 2021.