Tonali scores first ever goal for Italy to end drought of 460 days

Sandro Tonali scored the first goal of his international career to open the scoring in Italy’s Nations League match away against Belgium on Thursday night, ending a drought of 15 months without a goal for club or country.

Tonali scores first ever goal for Italy

Tonali was in the right place at the right time to stab home after a neat one-two between Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Nicolo Barella on Italy’s right flank. The Newcastle United midfielder popped up in the middle of the six-yard box to prod home from point-blank range.

Tonanli’s first Azzurri goal came on his 20th international appearance.

The former Milan midfielder has not scored in any competition for club or country since his first Premier League appearance for Newcastle, a 5-1 thumping of Aston Villa last August on the opening weekend of the 2023-24 season. That was 460 days ago

Though not particularly renowned for his goal-scoring attributes, Tonali currently has 25 goals from 262 professional appearances in all competitive fixtures for club and country.