Italy Crisis Continues with Home Loss to Belgium Before Unfilled Stadium on Mancini’s Return
Mika Godts scored his first international goal and Dodi Lukebakio added a late counterattack strike as Belgium controlled Italy’s opener.
- On Friday, Belgium defeated Italy 2-0 in their UEFA Nations League opener at Rome's Stadio Olimpico, with Mika Godts scoring in the 20th minute and Dodi Lukebakio doubling the lead midway through the second half.
- Returning head coach Roberto Mancini faced a hostile reception as only 47,155 spectators filled the 70,000-seat stadium, with home fans jeering loudly at the full-time whistle following Italy's first competitive match since missing the World Cup.
- Kevin De Bruyne, making his 125th international appearance, set up Godts, who recently completed a £45 million move to Paris Saint-Germain; Lukebakio's second goal came from 25 yards out.
- "When we lose, nobody is happy. When you lose, you can get jeered," Mancini said, emphasizing the need for improved ball retention and patience to build from the defeat.
- Italy visits Turkey on Monday before traveling to France next Friday to conclude the first phase of Nations League matches, critical tests for the Azzurri to stabilize performance after the Belgium loss.
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267 Articles
Italy becomes forced to react after losing by 2-0 to Belgium, while Turkey also seeks its first points after falling by 1-0 against France.
We're reviewing Turkey's match against Italy in the second round of Level I competitions with the European Football Leagues, and the transmission channels.
ITALY lost in the first match of the Nations League.
The coach split Italy's squad and left 10 players in Coverciano training alongside Barella and Maldini and out of the clash with Turkey
Italy's coach Roberto Mancini showed understanding for the displeasure of his own fans after his second term as a football national coach. "The whistles are understandable, Mancini said after the 0-2 of the former world champion in Rome against Belgium and emphasized: "But in the second half we were better.
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