Mancini's Italy Return Spoiled by Belgium Defeat
- Italy lost 2-0 to Belgium in a Nations League match at Stadio Olimpico on Friday, marking the return of Italy coach Roberto Mancini to the national team after a three-year absence.
- Belgium coach Mark van Bommel celebrated a successful debut as Mika Godts scored in the 20th minute, capitalizing on a loose pass from 20-year-old midfielder Alessandro Romano making his Italy debut.
- Substitute Dodi Lukebakio extended Belgium's lead with a powerful 25-yard strike midway through the second half, while Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma produced multiple saves to contain repeated counterattacks.
- Only 47,155 spectators attended the 70,000-seat Stadio Olimpico, with home fans jeering loudly at the final whistle after a performance underscoring Italy's struggles six months after failing World Cup qualifying.
- Italy travels to Turkey on Monday, seeking to recover after substitute Giorgio Scalvini squandered a late opportunity from two yards out that epitomized the team's finishing struggles.
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The new course of the national team begins with a defeat for 2-0: the blues suffer in the first half, they go under with Godts' goal, react after the interval but do not find the draw. Then the doubling of Lukebakio and the whistles of the Olimpico. The article Mancini, the return is bitter: Belgium dominates Italy at the Olimpico comes from La Verità.
Back on the Italian bench, Roberto Mancini did not succeed in his return to business. The Nazionale lost 2-0 in Rome against Belgium, and will have to react as early as Monday against Turkey.
In Group 1 of the UEFA Nations League A, Belgium defeated Italy 2-0 away from home.
Mancini's new Italy failed to debut: against Belgium in the Nations League a 2-0 came for the Red Devils that immediately sets up an already complicated path. The...
Italy crisis continues with home loss to Belgium before unfilled stadium on Mancini’s return
ROME (AP) — Six months on from failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, four-time champion Italy is still struggling.
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