Roberto Mancini's new leadership of the national team got off to a rocky start. The Azzurri lost their Nations League debut against a Belgium side that capitalized on Italy's mistakes.
At the Olimpico, Italy took to the field with a front three of Kean, Esposito, and Cambiaghi. Coach Roberto Mancini chose Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Coppola, and Calafiori in defense, and Tonali, Romano, and Barella in midfield.
The Belgian team, led by new coach Van Bommel: Lammens Castagne, Ngoy, Mechele, De Cuyper Tielemans, Raskin, De Bruyne, Moreira, De Ketelaere, Godts.
In the first half, Belgium were more solid than the Azzurri, who were caught off guard in the 20th minute. A mistake by Rossoblu midfielder Romano , who lost the ball horizontally while building up a play, sparked a Belgian attack: in the penalty area, the ball went to Godts, who forced two defenders to sit down and beat Donnarumma to make it 1-0.
The visitors had several chances to increase their lead, but none materialized. Kean, on the other hand, failed to capitalize on Cambiaghi's cross, which was the Azzurri's most concrete goal-scoring move of the first half.
Italy came very close to equalizing at the start of the second half. Once again, Kean, fed by Cambiaghi, struck from just outside the goal, but was quickly saved by Lammens Castagne. In the 52nd minute, another save from the Belgian goalkeeper saved the Red Devils from a close-range shot by Pio Esposito.
A flurry of substitutions followed, with Romano coming off in the 64th minute. Another Rossoblu player, Daniel Maldini, also came on. Italy had a different approach than in the first half, but it was Belgium who scored . The Azzurri doubled their lead in the 69th minute: another mistake by the Azzurri in midfield, the ball passed to Lukebakio (substitute), who moved inside and unleashed a right-footed shot from outside the area, beating Donnarumma.
A goal that knocked out the Azzurri, handing the game and the result to Belgium. The only real spark came from Scalvini in the 86th minute, who fired high from a corner just inches from the goal line.
