Tonali: ‘Italy must be positive, cannot let heads drop now’ | OneFootball

Sandro Tonali wants Italy to ‘remain positive and not let our heads drop’ after a 2-1 defeat to Germany, insisting the Nations League quarter-final is ‘all to play for.’

The Azzurri have a mountain to climb if they want to make it to the Nations League Final Four, as they saw Tonali’s well-worked opener overturned by a pair of Tim Kleindienst and Leon Goretzka headers.

“It was a strange match, because we played well, we tried to play it as simple as possible in the first half. Unfortunately, we really struggle on set plays and in the air,” the Newcastle United midfielder told RAI Sport.

“We’ve got to work, there is still everything to play for in the second leg and we must remain positive.”

Tonali wants Italy to keep believing

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 20: Antonio Rudiger of Germany has a headed shot against Gianluigi Donnarumma during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal leg one match between Italy and Germany at Stadio San Siro on March 20, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Once again, Italy conceded from a set play and with a pair of headers, but Luciano Spalletti said in his post-match interview that it must not become an obsession.

“We must know that it was not something we dealt with well, but at the same time remember our strengths, roll our sleeves up, lift our heads and remember it is not over,” agreed Tonali.

The second leg will be in Dortmund on Sunday evening, but while Italy were beaten 2-1, they created several big chances and forced far more saves from Oliver Baumann than Germany did against Gianluigi Donnarumma.

“There are another 90 minutes to play, we must do everything better, be more clinical and determined. If we had managed to get the second goal, it could’ve been a totally different game.

“This is football, we cannot let our heads drop now.”

It has been a remarkable week for Tonali, who won the Carabao Cup for Newcastle United and then scored a big goal for Italy at his old hunting ground of San Siro, where he used to play for Milan.