Roberto Mancini returns to Italy’s bench with a Nations League meeting against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico, 1,195 days after his last official match in charge on 18 June 2023. The opening fixture of Group A1 offers the Azzurri an immediate test after the damaging World Cup qualifying defeat to Bosnia, and begins a hoped-for new cycle under the coach who led Italy to European Championship glory.
Key takeaways
- Italy face Belgium in Rome at 20:45 in the first round of Nations League Group A1.
- Mancini has selected a 4-3-3, with Moise Kean used wide alongside Pio Esposito and Nicolò Cambiaghi.
- Belgium, led by Van Bommel, also start with a 4-3-3 featuring Kevin De Bruyne and Charles De Ketelaere.
- Italy hold a strong historical record against Belgium: 17 wins, five draws and four defeats in 26 official meetings.
- France, coached by Zinedine Zidane, and Vincenzo Montella’s Turkey complete the Group A1 line-up.
Mancini begins again in Rome
The Olympic Stadium is preparing for a return that carries more weight than an ordinary group-stage evening. Mancini’s first spell began in 2018 and eventually delivered the European title; his second starts with Italy attempting to restore direction after the Bosnia setback in World Cup qualification.
The coach has reduced an initial 34-man group to 23 for the Belgium match, leaving 11 players in the stands, including Nicolò Zaniolo. The selection points to a side built around established figures such as Gianluigi Donnarumma, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Nicolò Barella and Sandro Tonali, while also giving Romano, Pio Esposito and Cambiaghi a prominent place on a significant night.
Kean’s role is one of the notable choices. Rather than leading the line, the Como forward starts from the flank, a position Mancini has previously asked him to play. Pio Esposito occupies the central attacking role, with Cambiaghi completing the front three.
Teams and the Belgium record
Italy and Belgium have met regularly in recent Nations League editions. Their three most recent encounters in the competition brought an Italian victory in the 2021 third-place play-off under Mancini, followed by a draw and another Azzurri win in the group stage.
Across 26 official fixtures, Italy’s overall advantage is clear, although this is a Belgium side containing major experience in De Bruyne, Youri Tielemans and De Ketelaere. Van Bommel’s team begin with Lammens in goal and a forward line of Diego Moreira, De Ketelaere and Godts.
Italy starting XI
Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Coppola, Calafiori; Barella, Romano, Tonali; Kean, Pio Esposito, Cambiaghi.
Belgium starting XI
Lammens; Castagne, Mechele, Ngoy, De Cuyper; Raskin, Tielemans, De Bruyne; Moreira, De Ketelaere, Godts.
While supporters take their places in Rome, the other Group A1 match also gets under way, with Zidane’s France facing Montella’s Turkey. For Italy, though, the attention is fixed on Mancini and whether this first evening can give the national side a steadier foundation for the months ahead.
