ROME Roberto Mancini kicks off his second term as Italy national team coach with a challenging Nations League match against Belgium. The game is scheduled for Friday evening at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, kicking off at 8:45 PM. Italy, drawn in a tough group with Belgium, Turkey, and France, must avoid finishing last, which would mean relegation to League B.
For this first outing, Mancini deployed a 4-3-3 with Alessandro Romano as a new addition at deep-lying midfielder, supported by Barella and Tonali, the latter playing despite a minor injury. Donnarumma remained in goal, with Coppola and midfielder Gianluca Mancini in the center, flanked by Di Lorenzo and Calafiori on the flanks.
In attack, the coach's choice to focus on a double offensive tower stands out: Moise Kean acts as an attacking left winger, while Pio Esposito acts as a central point of reference with Cambiaghi completing the trident and Scamacca destined for the bench.
Mancini's list of 23 players available for Italy-Belgium:
Goalkeepers: Donnarumma, Carnesecchi and Vicario
Defenders: Kayode, Ahanor, Calafiori, Coppola, Scalvini, Di Lorenzo and Mancini.
Midfielders: Romano, Mandragora, Tonali, Doumbia, Zoma, Frattesi and Barella.
Forwards: Pio Esposito, Kean, Raspadori, Scamacca, Maldini and Cambiaghi.
Goalkeeper Pessina, defenders Bastoni (suspended), Ghilardi, Kouadio and Ruggeri, midfielders Ricci and Fagioli and forwards Inacio, Vergara, Zaniolo and Sebastiano Esposito will watch the match from the stands.
Belgium, coached by former AC Milan player Mark Van Bommel, responded with a 4-2-3-1 led by De Bruyne and De Ketelaere, without the big-name Lukaku in the starting lineup. The match promises to be crucial for both teams' ambitions at this stage of the Nations League.
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