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Italy’s Nations League campaign has got off to a difficult start. A total of 178 days after that painful night in Zenica, the Azzurri, playing the 900th match in their history, were unable to make a fresh start as they fell to a 2-0 defeat against Van Bommel’s new-look Belgium. Italy struggled in the first half, with Godts putting the visitors ahead and Donnarumma keeping his side in the game with at least three outstanding saves. The Azzurri responded after the break, but Lukébakio struck just as an equaliser appeared to be on the cards, halting Italy’s momentum. Roberto Mancini’s new tenure therefore began amid boos from the 47,000 spectators at the Olimpico.
“Belgium played better than us in the first half and we struggled,” said the Italy head coach. “We were the better side in the second half but failed to take our chances. I don’t think the performance fell short of expectations. Nobody is happy when you lose, so the boos are understandable.”
ROMANO MAKES HIS DEBUT, PIO AND MOISE START TOGETHER. Pio Esposito and Kean were both named in the starting line-up for Mancini’s first match back in charge. The Como striker started on the left of the front three, with Cambiaghi on the opposite flank. Alessandro Romano made his senior debut in the holding midfield role, flanked by Barella and Tonali. With Bastoni suspended, Mancini and Coppola formed the central defensive pairing, while Di Lorenzo and Calafiori occupied the full-back positions. Belgium, meanwhile, fielded three familiar Serie A faces: Kevin De Bruyne, new AC Milan signing Diego Moreira and Atalanta’s De Ketelaere, who was deployed as a false nine by Van Bommel.
GODTS STRIKES EARLY, THEN DONNARUMMA KEEPS ITALY IN THE GAME. De Bruyne and De Ketelaere combined to create the first opportunity, with the Napoli midfielder sliding a pass through to Belgium’s number 17, whose low shot gave Donnarumma an early warning of what lay ahead (6’). Italy responded through Inter pair Barella and Esposito two minutes later, but Pio’s volley against the post was followed by the assistant referee’s raised flag (8’). It proved to be one of the few moments of danger from the Nerazzurri striker, who was too isolated up front.
Van Bommel’s side took the lead when Romano lost possession in the attacking third and De Bruyne released Godts, who skipped past Mancini and Coppola before beating Donnarumma (20’). Italy struggled to recover from the setback, and captain Donnarumma produced an excellent double save, tipping away De Ketelaere’s long-range effort before racing off his line to thwart Raskin on the follow-up. The Azzurri goalkeeper then excelled again to keep out Godts’ close-range header after another Belgian break, during which Tielemans failed to pick out a completely unmarked Moreira.
The 47,000 spectators at the Olimpico tried to rally an Italy side struggling to build meaningful attacks. The Azzurri enjoyed more success down the left, where Cambiaghi reached the byline on a couple of occasions and crossed towards the far post, but Kean was unable to find the target. Belgium threatened again through Godts and Ngoy before the interval and led the shot count 14-4 after 45 minutes. The visitors could consider themselves unfortunate to be only 1-0 ahead.
ITALY RESPOND, BELGIUM STRIKE. Italy came close to equalising immediately after the restart, but Lammens stuck out a foot to keep out Kean’s goalbound effort. The Azzurri looked more assured, took control of possession and forced Belgium back into their own half, with Cambiaghi continuing to create their best openings. Another run down the flank by the Bologna winger created a chance for Esposito, but Lammens was alert once again. Mancini made a triple substitution, bringing on Scalvini and Frattesi for Coppola and Romano, while Maldini replaced Esposito and Kean moved into the centre-forward role.
Italy poured forward in search of an equaliser, only for Belgium to double their advantage. Substitute Lukébakio broke from the halfway line and, although Tonali managed to slow him down, the Benfica forward unleashed a powerful, precise left-footed strike past Donnarumma just as he appeared to have lost momentum. The second goal stopped Italy in their tracks. Mancini attempted to revive their hopes by handing debuts to Doumbia and Zoma, and the Azzurri still created chances to get back into the match. Calafiori fired wide from a promising position before Scalvini clipped the crossbar from point-blank range.
The Olimpico crowd voiced its displeasure, while Donnarumma and Lukaku exchanged words in midfield, prompting German referee Siebert to book both players. There is little time for Italy to dwell on the defeat, with the Azzurri due to face Türkiye in Bursa on Monday in the second of their four matches during this extended international window. They will face Montella’s Türkiye in the first of two meetings in quick succession, with the teams set to meet again in Bologna on 5 October. Türkiye lost 1-0 to France in the group’s other match this evening.
ITALY 0-2 BELGIUM
ITALIA (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Coppola (65’ Scalvini), Calafiori; Romano (65’ Frattesi), Barella (80’ Doumbia), Tonali; Kean, P. Esposito (65’ Maldini), Cambiaghi (80’ Zoma). Substitutes: Carnesecchi, Vicario, Kayode, Ahanor, Mandragora, Scamacca, Raspadori. Coach: Mancini.
BELGIUM (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Castagne, Ngoy, Mechele, De Cuyper; Tielemans, Raskin (73’ Lavia); De Bruyne (58’ Vanaken); Moreira (58’ Lukébakio), Godts (83’ Fernandez -Pardo); De Ketelaere (83’ Lukaku). Substitutes: Vandevoordt, De Busser, Debast, Theate, Openda, Keita, Seys. Coach: Van Bommel.
Referee: Siebert (Germany). Assistants: Seidel and Foltyn (Germany). Fourth official: Stegemann (Germany). VAR: Dankert (Germany); AVAR: Müller (Germany)
Goals: 20' Godts (B), 69’ Lukébakio (B)
Notes: Attendance: 47,155. Raskin (B), Moreira (B), Mancini (I), Lavia (B), Fernandez-Pardo (B), Donnarumma (I) and Lukaku (B) booked.
GROUP A1: RESULTS AND STANDINGS
Italy 0-2 Belgium
Türkiye 0-1 France
Standings: Belgium and France 3 points; Türkiye and Italy 0