Ricci: ‘Game is within Italy’s reach ‘ against Germany in 2nd leg

Samuele Ricci explains where Italy went wrong against Germany and how they aim to turn the Nations League quarter-final around tonight. ‘The game is within our reach.’

It kicks off at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund at 19.45 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

The Azzurri lost the first leg 2-1 at San Siro, despite originally taking the lead through Sandro Tonali, as they were undone by a pair of headers.

With that in mind, as well as the injury to Riccardo Calafiori, they changed two of the back three, bringing in the height of Federico Gatti and Alessandro Buongiorno.

Ricci believes Italy can turn it around

“We will certainly step onto the pitch with the same ideas, as we did very well overall at San Siro, but football is ultimately decided by incidents,” Ricci told RAI Sport.

“The game is within our reach.”

Ricci is one of four changes from the side that started the first leg, replacing Lazio midfielder Nicolò Rovella.

“The coach showed me some of the things from the last half-four, as we didn’t have the right communication and therefore did not move together at the right time.

“We must play with character and have the right mentality,” added the Torino midfielder.

If the tie ends level on aggregate, with Italy winning by a one-goal margin in Dortmund, then it goes to extra time and perhaps even penalties for a place in the Final Four.