There were no miracles in Bologna, just a clinical and efficient Italy side. Less spectacular than the team that impressed in Bursa a week ago, perhaps, but just as determined to secure a victory that has taken them, for now, into second place in the group. The 3-1 win over a proud Türkiye side, who refused to give in despite several absentees, guarantees that Italy will be seeded in the draw for the next European Championship qualifiers and, above all, keeps the Azzurri in contention for a place in the Nations League quarter-finals.

Italy went ahead through Scamacca despite failing to hit top gear in the first half, the striker scoring his first international goal in three years. After Şimşir equalised, the Azzurri responded emphatically through Riccardo Calafiori and, inevitably, Pio Esposito.

At the stadium where he made his Serie A debut 45 years ago, Roberto Mancini celebrated his 39th victory as Head Coach and another encouraging display from a side that already seems to have developed its own identity after just a few days of work. There is no shortage of character either.

“We started poorly,” said Mancini after the game, “but we did well to get back into it, create chances and score. We knew that changing nine players would cost us something, but we had no alternative. It was our fourth game in 11 days and, despite the changes, everyone was tired.”

The final two fixtures against France and Belgium in a month will decide Italy’s bid to reach the Finals. “We have to keep going like this,” Mancini added. “We’ll see what happens in November. We’ll probably go to Belgium with qualification on the line.”

NINE CHANGES. As anticipated, Mancini opted for extensive rotation. After making eight changes in Bursa from the opening game against Belgium, he introduced no fewer than nine new faces three days after the clash with France. Donnarumma and Bastoni were the only players to retain their places, with the Inter defender joined by Gianluca Mancini in central defence and Di Lorenzo and Ruggeri replacing Kayode and Calafiori at full-back. Barella and Romano returned to the starting XI in midfield after facing Belgium, while Doumbia made his first start. Up front, Vergara, Scamacca and Maldini formed a new-look front three.

Montella also had to contend with several absences. In addition to the injured Yildiz and Çalhanoğlu, Arda Güler and Barış Yılmaz were suspended. Without his star names, Montella lined Türkiye up in a 5-3-2, with Şimşir and Akgün leading the attack.

SCAMACCA BREAKS HIS DUCK. Despite being depleted, Türkiye started well, while Italy were too tentative in the opening stages. After Scamacca fired off target, it was Donnarumma who was first called into action, diving to turn Kabak’s long-range effort behind before comfortably gathering Akgün’s header after the forward had escaped the attention of the defence.

The Azzurri did, however, show one important quality: ruthlessness. They scored with their first and only clear opportunity of the first half. Di Lorenzo crossed, Scamacca’s header struck Çelik on the back and, when the ball broke loose, the Atalanta striker reacted quickest to beat Kabak to it and unleash a powerful right-footed effort under the crossbar. It was only the second international goal for Italy’s number 11, coming 1,084 days after he had found the net against England at Wembley in October 2023.

CALAFIORI’S FIRST, PIO SCORES AGAIN. Montella’s side emerged for the second half believing they could find an equaliser. A misunderstanding between Di Lorenzo and Donnarumma almost proved costly, but Şimşir failed to take advantage. The Türkiye forward then had another opportunity to make it 1-1 with a header, only for Mancini to clear from close range. At the third attempt, however, Şimşir made no mistake, turning in Çelik’s low cross after Elmali had flicked it on with his heel.

Five minutes before the equaliser, Mancini had introduced Pio Esposito for Scamacca and replaced both full-backs to make use of the attacking thrust provided by Kayode and Calafiori. It was the Arsenal defender who restored Italy’s lead, rising powerfully to head home Barella’s free-kick. It was Calafiori’s first goal for the National Team, scored at the stadium where his career took off in a Bologna shirt.

Italy were back in front, but the job was not yet done. Gigio Donnarumma flew across goal to keep out Özcan’s powerful long-range effort, before a rash decision to come off his line presented substitute Aktürkoğlu with the chance to make it 2-2. Fortunately, he failed to take it.

Pio Esposito then put the game to bed in the closing stages, turning Romano’s driven cross-shot into the net for his seventh goal in 13 appearances for the Azzurri. The final whistle was greeted by the 30,000 fans at the Dall’Ara singing the familiar “po-popopo-popopo” soundtrack of so many memorable nights.

Italy will return to action in a month for their final two group fixtures: against France in Milan on 12 November and Belgium in Brussels on 15 November. The Azzurri are up and running again. Now they need to keep going.

ITALY 3-1 TÜRKİYE (1-0 HT)

ITALY (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo (Kayode 55’), Mancini, Bastoni, Ruggeri (Calafiori 55’); Romano, Barella (Tonali 70’), Doumbia; Vergara (Frattesi 83’), Scamacca (P. Esposito 55’), Maldini. Subs not used: Carnesecchi, Vicario, Cambiaghi, Fagioli, Inácio, Scalvini, S. Esposito. Head Coach: Mancini.

TÜRKİYE (5-3-2): Çakır; Çelik, Bardakcı, Kabak (Aydın 89’), Elmalı; Yüksek (Aktürkoğlu 79’), Özcan, Kahveci (Fakılı 70’); Şimşir (Elmaz 70’), Akgün (Gül 89’). Subs not used: Bayındır, Şengezer, Demiral, Topçu, Tiknaz, Kabasakal, Eskihellaç. Head Coach: Montella.

Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland). Assistant Referees: Tomasz Listkiewicz and Adam Kupsik (Poland). Fourth Official: Karol Arys (Poland). VAR: Piotr Lasyk (Poland). AVAR: Lukas Fändrich (Switzerland).

Goals: 26’ Scamacca (ITA), 60’ Şimşir (TUR), 64’ Calafiori (ITA), 88’ P. Esposito (ITA).

Notes: Attendance: 30,040. Booked: Scamacca (ITA), Ruggeri (ITA), Çelik (TUR), Bardakcı (TUR).

GROUP A1 RESULTS AND STANDINGS

Italy 3-1 Türkiye
France 4-1 Belgium

Standings: France 10 points, Italy 7, Belgium 6, Türkiye 0.