The debut in the Kings League World Cup Nations 2025 does not please Italy, defeated 3-1 by Japan at Vismara in Milan. Despite good ball possession and several scoring opportunities, the Azzurri showed difficulty in scoring and were punished by Japanese precision.
After a first half that closed at 2-0 for the Japanese, Italy’s goal came thanks to a presidential penalty converted by the streamer Blur in the 34th minute. Japan then closed the score with Agata in the 37th minute, taking advantage of a lethal counterattack.
Unique rules, tension and entertainment
The Kings League stands out for its particular rules, which also had an impact on this match. Among these:
Presidential Penalty: Each team can activate a special penalty kicked by the president or a designated player. Italy used this card to score the only goal of the match. Strategy Cards: Both teams used special cards, such as the “Suspension Card,” which forced an opponent out for a few minutes. Double goal: In the last minutes of the game, every goal could have counted as a double, but Italy failed to take advantage of this opportunity.
The Azzurri created numerous chances, including a crossbar hit by Trombetta, but the lack of precision in front of goal had an impact. Furthermore, two key players like Bonucci and Viviano were missing, who will be available for the next match.
Italy will return to the field on January 3, facing the loser of the match between Spain and Argentina. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sport Calcio and streaming on SkySport.it, YouTube and TikTok by NOW. The Azzurri will have to redeem themselves to stay in the tournament.
