PHOTO
Three days on from their opening defeat to Belgium, Italy are back in action looking to bounce back and get their first points on the board in the Nations League. The Azzurri have arrived in Bursa, where they face Vincenzo Montella’s Türkiye tomorrow evening at the Atatürk Spor Kompleksi (20:45 Italian time, live on Rai 1, with England’s Oliver as referee). The game also brings Mancini and ‘L’Aeroplanino’ face to face, having once formed a formidable strike partnership at Sampdoria. Under Sven-Goran Eriksson, the pair scored 37 goals between them during the 1996/97 season. “Montella has done, and continues to do, an excellent job,” Mancini said in his pre-match press conference. “Türkiye did not deserve to go out in the group stage of the World Cup. They’re an excellent side with a wealth of talented players. I think tomorrow will be a great game.”
After a disappointing first half against Belgium, the Azzurri improved after the break, only to concede a second goal just as they appeared close to finding an equaliser. “Belgium were top of the rankings for many years. They made things difficult for us in the first half, but we need to take the positives from our second-half performance and build on them. There’s too much anxiety around at the moment, but we have to stay calm. We simply need time to work and to develop into a competitive team. Criticism comes with the territory and, in football as in any sport, results are the surest way to change the narrative. “It’s up to us. If we can play well and win, then things will change, because ultimately these situations are always influenced by results.”
CHANGES EXPECTED. Mancini will welcome Bastoni back after his suspension against Belgium and is set to make changes from the side that started in Rome. With four matches packed into a short period, the coach also opted not to take the entire squad on the demanding trip to Türkiye, instead arranging a tailored training programme at the CTF in Coverciano for ten players: Ahanor, Barella, Coppola, Inacio, Kouadio, Maldini, Mancini, Pessina, Ricci and Zoma. Nicolò Zaniolo, meanwhile, has returned home after being ruled out of the next three matches. “There will be some changes, because it’s impossible to play four games in such a short space of time. It’s also important to see how the younger players cope in demanding matches.”
TONALI SPEAKS LIKE A LEADER. Having started against Belgium, Sandro Tonali is ready to go again as Italy look to bounce back from defeat to the Red Devils. “I feel good,” he said. “I’ve recovered 100%.”
The Italy midfielder also stressed the importance of allowing the younger players to develop without placing too much responsibility on their shoulders. “We didn’t play well on Friday and we deserved to lose. Every defeat hurts, but you have to stay positive. It’s up to us more experienced players to shoulder the difficult moments and allow the younger ones to play with freedom and to grow.” Optimism and composure will be key as Italy look to return to winning ways and climb back towards where they want to be. “This is a very healthy, very young group, and you can’t expect everything straight away. We don’t have that one star who can change a game in ten seconds, so we have to work and take things step by step. “We have time. We still have plenty of matches to play together and we need to keep working to become even more of a team. We’re strong players and, little by little, our quality will come through.”
