Roberto Mancini's second spell as Italy's head coach began the way the first era's worst nights did: with a 2-0 home defeat, this time to Belgium in the UEFA Nations League, as the Azzurri's crisis deepened in front of a half-empty Stadio Olimpico.
The match
Mika Godts put Belgium ahead inside the opening 25 minutes, cutting in from the left after a setup from Kevin De Bruyne — who was making his 125th international appearance — and slotting past Gianluigi Donnarumma for his first international goal. Dodi Lukebakio doubled the lead midway through the second half with a powerful strike from beyond the area.
Only 47,155 spectators turned up in the 70,000-seat Olimpico, and the home crowd was whistling within 20 minutes. The jeers grew louder at the full-time whistle after a performance that showed how much rebuilding Italy still needs.
Context of decline
This was Italy's first match since a playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March sealed a third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup. Mancini, the Euro 2020 winner, has returned three years after leaving the job to coach Saudi Arabia, and he cut a frustrated figure on the touchline.
A debut on the other bench
It was a winning debut for new Belgium coach Mark van Bommel, who took over after Rudi Garcia's departure following the Red Devils' run to the World Cup quarter-finals. On the Italy side, midfielder Alessandro Romano made his debut after switching international allegiance from Switzerland, while Diego Coppola started only his second game for the national team in place of the suspended Alessandro Bastoni.
Sources: Al Jazeera: Italy crisis deepens as Belgium's win stalls World Cup rebuild in Rome | SuperSport: Mancini's Italy return spoiled by Belgium defeat
The match
Mika Godts put Belgium ahead inside the opening 25 minutes, cutting in from the left after a setup from Kevin De Bruyne — who was making his 125th international appearance — and slotting past Gianluigi Donnarumma for his first international goal. Dodi Lukebakio doubled the lead midway through the second half with a powerful strike from beyond the area.
Only 47,155 spectators turned up in the 70,000-seat Olimpico, and the home crowd was whistling within 20 minutes. The jeers grew louder at the full-time whistle after a performance that showed how much rebuilding Italy still needs.
Context of decline
This was Italy's first match since a playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March sealed a third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup. Mancini, the Euro 2020 winner, has returned three years after leaving the job to coach Saudi Arabia, and he cut a frustrated figure on the touchline.
A debut on the other bench
It was a winning debut for new Belgium coach Mark van Bommel, who took over after Rudi Garcia's departure following the Red Devils' run to the World Cup quarter-finals. On the Italy side, midfielder Alessandro Romano made his debut after switching international allegiance from Switzerland, while Diego Coppola started only his second game for the national team in place of the suspended Alessandro Bastoni.
Sources: Al Jazeera: Italy crisis deepens as Belgium's win stalls World Cup rebuild in Rome | SuperSport: Mancini's Italy return spoiled by Belgium defeat