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From the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, where Italy began the memorable journey that culminated in European glory in the summer of 2021, Roberto Mancini is set to begin his second spell in charge of the National Team. Tomorrow evening (20:45, live on Rai 1, with Germany’s Siebert refereeing), the Azzurri will face Belgium in their opening match of the fifth edition of the UEFA Nations League. The clash with the Red Devils is the first of four matches awaiting Italy over the space of 11 days and represents their first test since the disappointment of missing out on World Cup qualification. “The feeling is positive,” Mancini said at his pre-match press conference. “The Olimpico has always given us a warm welcome (more than 39,000 tickets have been issued so far, ed.). It will be up to us. We have to win the fans over. We’ll try to play well from the very start and get a result. That’s the best medicine if we want people to get behind us. We know it won’t be easy because we’ve only had two days to prepare for the match. I’ve experienced so many emotions this week and I can’t wait to hear the national anthem. Hopefully we can round off a perfect week with a win.”
The head coach will be back in the Italy dugout 1,195 days after the 3-2 win over the Netherlands in Enschede in the third-place play-off at the 2022/23 Nations League. This time, he is hoping to go one better: “That game against the Netherlands was for third place. Hopefully this time we can reach the final and play for the trophy. It’s a tough group, but we’ll give it everything.”
YOUNG PLAYERS NEED SUPPORT. Tomorrow, Italy will play the 900th match in their history, with a record of 481 wins, 242 draws and 176 defeats. It all began on 15 May 1910 at the Arena Civica in Milano, where the Azzurri recorded a resounding 6-2 victory over France, who are also in Italy’s Nations League group. Since then, the National Team have won four World Cups, Olympic gold and two European Championships, the most recent of which came under Roberto Mancini in the summer of 2021. Five players remain from the side that triumphed at Wembley, while nine new faces have joined a young squad determined to turn the page after the disappointing night in Zenica. Everyone looks set to get an opportunity, with Mancini keen to find out as soon as possible which of the newcomers can become regular members of the group: “These players have quality. They’re young and they’re bound to make mistakes at first. We need to help them, and we need to believe in them.”
BELGIUM WITH AN ITALIAN FLAVOUR. Italy’s most recent match in Rome was also against Belgium in the Nations League. On 10 October 2024, the sides drew 2-2 at the Olimpico, with the Azzurri racing into a 2-0 lead through Cambiaso and Retegui before De Cuyper and Trossard brought Belgium level. Neither of Italy’s goalscorers is in the squad this time, while Belgium changed head coach after the World Cup, with Mark van Bommel replacing Rudi Garcia. Six Red Devils currently play in Serie A, including AC Milan duo De Winter and Moreira, Kevin De Bruyne, Bologna’s Theate and Mandela Keita. Charles De Ketelaere will be another player to watch after scoring three goals in Belgium’s last two World Cup matches. “We’re facing a strong side,” Mancini warned, “with an excellent coach. It won’t be easy to come away with the win.”
THE CAPTAIN’S VIEW. One of the leading figures in Italy’s European Championship triumph in England, Gigio Donnarumma has now been reunited with the head coach alongside whom he celebrated the greatest success of his remarkable career: “There’s a special bond with the coach because of everything we went through together and what we achieved. I’m delighted he’s back and I’m sure he’ll help us a great deal. We want to play on the front foot, be aggressive and try to dictate the game. Our goal is to build a great Italy side.” Making a strong start will be crucial as the Azzurri look to put the disappointment of watching the World Cup from home behind them: “Those were incredibly tough days. It was a strange, very long summer. But now we have to start again. A new cycle is beginning. We’re full of motivation and tomorrow it will be up to us to give the fans that spark and make them fall in love with the Azzurri shirt again.”
With 83 senior caps to his name, the Italy goalkeeper is also an important reference point for the young players who walked through the gates of Coverciano for the first time on Sunday: “They all have plenty of desire and quality, and I’m sure they’ll be the future of this National Team. It will be up to those of us in the more experienced group to help them settle in, make them feel at ease and support them through the difficult moments.”
REMEMBERING BARESI AND MAZZOLA. Tomorrow evening, the FIGC will pay tribute to two great champions and National Team legends who passed away in recent weeks. A moment of silence will be observed in memory of Sandro Mazzola, while Franco Baresi will also be honoured before kick-off.
THE SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Massimo Pessina (Bologna), Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus);
Defenders: Honest Ahanor (Crystal Palace), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Diego Coppola (Paris FC), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Daniele Ghilardi (Roma), Michael Kayode (Brentford), Eddy Kouadio (Monza), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Matteo Ruggeri (Aston Villa), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta);
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP), Nicolò Fagioli (Fiorentina), Davide Frattesi (Lazio), Rolando Mandragora (Torino), Samuele Ricci (Como), Alessandro Romano (Cagliari), Sandro Tonali (Tottenham);
Forwards: Nicolò Cambiaghi (Bologna), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo), Samuele Inacio (Borussia Dortmund), Moise Kean (Como), Daniel Maldini (Cagliari), Giacomo Raspadori (Atalanta), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Antonio Vergara (Napoli), Nicolò Zaniolo (Udinese), Mohamed Alì Zoma (Nuremberg)
