Italy Defeated by Belgium 2-0 in Roberto Mancini's Return
Italy suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Belgium in the UEFA Nations League during Roberto Mancini's return as coach, drawing jeers from the crowd at the Stadio Olimpico.
Months after missing out on the World Cup for the third consecutive time, the Italian national team is still searching for a way out of its crisis. The Azzurri returned to action with a 2-0 home defeat to Belgium in the UEFA Nations League, a match that marked the return of Roberto Mancini to the technical area.
A Disappointing Return at the Stadio Olimpico
Only 47,155 spectators attended the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, which holds around 70,000 seats, and the patience in the stands ran out very quickly. Just 20 minutes in, jeers echoed through the stadium after Mika Godts put the Belgians ahead with his first international goal. Kevin De Bruyne, making his 125th appearance for the national team, provided the assist. The Belgian star picked out Godts on the left flank, and the young midfielder cut inside, beat three Italian defenders, and sent the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Italy tried to get back into the match but struggled to create meaningful chances. In the second phase, Belgium punished them once more. Dodi Lukebakio received the ball on a counter-attack, advanced toward the penalty area, and unleashed a long-range shot to double the lead.
"We gave them space and conceded two goals that could have been avoided. There is a lot of work to do," admitted Riccardo Calafiori at the final whistle.
Pressure and Discontent in the Ranks
For Mancini, it was a particularly frustrating return to the national team. The 61-year-old coach led Italy to Euro 2021 glory but unexpectedly resigned in August 2023 to coach Saudi Arabia. Now he is back at the helm, but criticism was swift after his very first game back. "When you lose, nobody is happy," Mancini said. "When you lose, you have to accept the whistles."
Captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo also addressed the crowd's reaction and tried to calm the waters. "It is certainly not nice to leave the pitch with jeers, but we must accept them," he said. "The team tried to do its best. It's a shame, because we wanted to start the group well, and we know we have to improve."
