Mancini returns to Italy's helm, faces Belgium at the Olympics
Roberto Mancini returns to coach the Italy national team in his first official match since his departure in 2023, facing Belgium at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. The match, scheduled for Friday at 19.45 UK time, represents a trial by fire for an ‘Azzurra’ that seeks to regain credibility after losing the last three World Cups.
Mancini's debut
Marc Canosa, journalist, noted that Mancini's return marks the beginning of a second "era Mancini" in Italy. The announced lineup includes Gianluigi Donnarumma among the goalkeepers, with Kayode, Mancini, Scalvini and Calafiori in defence, and Barella, Tonali and Frattesi in midfield. Up front will be Inacio, P. Esposito and Raspadori. For Belgium, Thibaut Lammens guards the net while Courtois does not travel for personal reasons, leaving the Belgian side without one of its key figures.
Belgian manager Van Bommel has confirmed that Courtois prefers to skip this year's Nations League and will return only if the coach deems it appropriate for the Euro 2028 qualifiers.
Expectations and news
Donnarumma told Sky Sport Italy that the World Cup play‑off issue remains a taboo for the group, but emphasized the need to look forward. "The pain is still too great to reopen that wound; the important thing is to build a great team and manager Mancini will give a big hand with that," he said.
Italy and Mancini look to surprise Belgium in Rome
The goalkeeper also recalled the loss in the 2026 World Cup play‑off final against Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Italy played most of the match with ten men after Alessandro Bastoni's dismissal. Nevertheless, Donnarumma expressed his hunger to return to success, recalling the Euro 2020 triumph under Mancini's guidance.
Among the new faces, Alessandro Romano, a Cagliari midfielder, has caught the coach's eye and could debut against Belgium. Donnarumma praised his performance and the quality of the youngsters, asserting that the old guard must help them get through tough moments.
Italy seeks a proactive, positive and aggressive style, as was seen at Euro 2020, and wants to control the game against an opponent that, despite being without Courtois, boasts talents like De Bruyne and Lukaku. Nations League Group A also includes France and Turkey under Vincenzo Montella's direction.
Van Bommel aims to dominate the Nations League against Italy
The match, besides being the first competitive fixture since the painful elimination, will be an opportunity for fans to once again feel pride in the azzurra shirt and for Mancini to show that his return can change the team's trajectory.