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The Red Devils have become Italy’s bogey team. Belgium beat the Azzurri 4-1 in Brussels, 51 days after beating them at the Olimpico in the first match of Roberto Mancini’s new spell in charge. Van Bommel’s side join France in the Nations League quarter-finals, with Italy missing out at the final hurdle.
The evening had started perfectly for Italy. Pio Esposito was on target again, rewarding a bold start from a side that went out to win even with a draw enough to qualify. However, Belgium quickly took control and had Italy on the ropes. Doku was devastating, De Bruyne was inspired, and fellow Serie A players De Ketelaere and Diego Moreira were constantly involved. Even Gigio Donnarumma’s customary heroics could do little to change the outcome. Belgium were well worth their win.
“They were better than us,” Roberto Mancini admitted with his usual candour. “We couldn’t match them physically in the one-on-ones and it cost us. After a good start, we began to struggle. We couldn’t cover the spaces or press as we needed to, and we also felt a little tired after the France game.”
Italy can still take plenty from the past two months. They beat Türkiye twice, drew with Les Bleus in Paris and won on Thursday in Milan, a result that seemed to put them on course to qualify. “You get nights like this when you’re trying to improve,” the head coach said. “There are important lessons to take from games like this. We’re disappointed, but tonight’s experience will help us.”
PISILLI AND KOLEOSHO START. Mancini sprang a surprise with three changes from the France match, two of them enforced. Fagioli and Koleosho replaced the injured Frattesi and Cambiaghi, while Pisilli added another body to a mobile midfield set up to support Pio Esposito. Belgium’s side featured several familiar Serie A faces, including Atalanta’s De Ketelaere, AC Milan’s Moreira and the evergreen De Bruyne. Then there was Doku, who would prove impossible to contain.
PIO STRIKES EARLY BUT BELGIUM HIT BACK. Italy needed a win or a draw to go through. Mancini asked his side to be brave and go for the win, and they started on the front foot. Calafiori picked out Fagioli after a long passing move, and Lammens saved the Fiorentina midfielder’s shot before keeping out Pisilli’s follow-up. Donnarumma responded with a double save of his own, denying De Ketelaere’s header and then Ngoy’s effort from close range.
The pace was relentless. In the eleventh minute, Pio Esposito beat Ngoy to Kayode’s cross and guided the ball into the top corner with the outside of his right boot. It was his tenth goal in 15 caps. However, the hosts hit back immediately, with two goals in seven minutes turning the game around. First, De Cuyper diverted De Ketelaere’s scuffed shot into the net, then Ngoy scored in a goalmouth scramble following a corner.
As in Rome, Belgium were at their best with space to run into. Doku picked up the ball on the break, weaved past four opponents into the box and beat Donnarumma with a superb solo effort. Belgium eased off with a two-goal lead, but De Bruyne nearly made it four after a piece of trickery left Scalvini guessing. Donnarumma kept him out, then flew across goal to save a long-range effort from Doku. De Bruyne looked certain to score after a mistake by Bastoni, only for Donnarumma to turn his shot onto the post. Belgium were rampant. Italy, meanwhile, got back into the hosts’ box on the stroke of half-time, when Pisilli headed wide.
DE BRUYNE PULLS THE STRINGS AND MOREIRA MAKES IT FOUR. Doumbia and Dimarco came on at half-time as Pisilli and Fagioli made way. Dimarco played high on the left, as he had against France. Italy pushed further up the pitch and left space for Belgium to counter. Moreira played in Doku, who took a moment too long. De Bruyne then fired inches wide and De Ketelaere grazed the bar with a header.
Mancini switched to a back three in an attempt to contain the Red Devils, bringing on Palestra and debutant Cisse for Scalvini and Tonali. De Bruyne forced another save from Donnarumma before combining with Doku on the break to set up Diego Moreira, who finished the move to make it 4-1. Italy could have had a penalty at the other end in the same passage of play.
Late on, Raskin handled Cisse’s shot and this time the referee pointed to the spot after a VAR review. Lammens went the right way to save Pio Esposito’s penalty, denying Italy’s No. 9 a second brace in as many games. Cisse then found the net on his debut, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
A crowd of around 42,000 at the King Baudouin Stadium celebrated as Belgium sealed a deserved place in the quarter-finals. Italy finished as one of the two best third-placed teams, avoiding the relegation play-offs and retaining their place in League A of the Nations League. They will be seeded for the European Qualifiers draw in Belfast on 6 December. Qualifying begins in March, giving the Azzurri a fresh start to look forward to.
BELGIUM 4-1 ITALY (HT 3-1)
Belgium (4-3-3): Lammens; Castagne, Ngoy (87’ Theate), Mechele, De Cuyper; De Bruyne (87’ Lukébakio), Lavia (75’ Raskin), Tielemans; Moreira (87’ Trossard), De Ketelaere, Doku (90’ Godts).
Unused substitutes: Vandevoordt, Penders, Sabbe, Lukaku, Cuypers, Seys, Vanaken.
Head coach: Van Bommel.
Italy (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Kayode, Scalvini (62’ Palestra), Bastoni, Calafiori; Fagioli (46’ Doumbia), Tonali (62’ Cisse), Barella; Pisilli (46’ Dimarco), P. Esposito, Koleosho (75’ Vergara).
Unused substitutes: Carnesecchi, Vicario, Ahanor, Romano, Liberali, Scamacca.
Head coach: Mancini.
Referee: Eskas (Norway).
Assistant referees: Engan and Rossland (Norway).
Fourth official: Kringstad (Norway).
VAR: Dingert (Germany). AVAR: Hagenes (Norway).
Goals: 11’ P. Esposito (ITA), 15’ De Cuyper (BEL), 22’ Ngoy (BEL), 26’ Doku (BEL), 80’ Moreira (BEL).
Notes: Attendance 42,500. Lammens saved Pio Esposito’s penalty in the 90th minute. Tonali, Scalvini and Donnarumma (all ITA) were booked.
