Italy's national football team, the Azzurri, suffered a 2-0 defeat to Belgium in their UEFA Nations League opener on September 25, 2026, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Coach Roberto Mancini, who returned to the team for a second spell this summer, accepted the boos from fans as a normal part of the game. The loss was a disappointing start to Mancini's second stint as Italy's head coach, three years after he left the role to manage Saudi Arabia.
The match saw Belgium's Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio score goals either side of half-time, securing a deserved win for Mark van Bommel's team in his managerial debut. Italy's goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, played a crucial role in keeping the score at 0-0 in the first half. Despite the loss, Mancini identified positives, particularly in the 25 minutes of the second half where Italy was aggressive and recovered second balls effectively.
Mancini acknowledged that his team needs to improve, specifically in reducing ball losses and increasing possession with calmness. He emphasized that his team must learn to let go of past disappointments, such as the World Cup play-off defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties in March. Mancini encouraged his players to focus on the positives and not dwell on past failures.
Belgium's coach, Mark van Bommel, expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, highlighting their desire, intensity, and control in the first half. He acknowledged room for improvement but praised his team's ability to regain control of the game after substitutions. Van Bommel also commended Lukebakio's goal, which sealed the victory for Belgium.
The loss was a tough pill to swallow for Italy's fans, who booed their team off the pitch. Mancini compared winning back the fans to scaling Everest, stating that it would be better when they reach the top. He accepted the fans' disappointment and anger as part of the game.
Italy will look to bounce back in their upcoming games against Turkey and a trip to France during the international break. Mancini's team will aim to build on the positives from the second half of the Belgium match. The coach emphasized the importance of learning from past experiences and moving forward.
The defeat marks a challenging start to Mancini's second spell as Italy's coach. However, he remains focused on improving his team and winning back the fans. With a tough schedule ahead, Italy will need to regroup and show resilience to achieve their goals.
Key points
- Roberto Mancini accepts fans' jeers as part of the game after Italy's 2-0 loss to Belgium.
- Mancini identifies positives in Italy's second-half performance.
- Italy will face Turkey and France in their upcoming international games.
