Italy crisis deepens as Belgium’s win stalls World Cup rebuild in Rome

Belgium triumph 2-0 successful Italy arsenic Nations League opener is played retired successful beforehand of astir fractional bare Stadio Olimpico.

Six months connected from failing to suffice for a 3rd consecutive World Cup, four-time champion Italy is inactive struggling.

Italy was beaten 2-0 astatine location by World Cup quarterfinalist Belgium successful the Nations League connected Friday successful the Azzurri’s archetypal lucifer since a playoff nonaccomplishment to Bosnia and Herzegovina successful March.

Roberto Mancini marked his instrumentality to Italy’s seat 3 years aft helium abandoned the occupation for a lucrative woody to manager Saudi Arabia, and helium appeared frustrated connected the touchline.

By contrast, it was a palmy debut for caller Belgium manager Mark van Bommel, the erstwhile Netherlands planetary who was hired erstwhile Rudi Garcia near aft the World Cup.

Only 47,155 spectators showed up successful the 70,000-seat Stadio Olimpico and the location fans were already whistling 20 minutes successful aft Mika Godts enactment the visitors up with his archetypal planetary goal.

Dodi Lukebakio doubled Belgium’s vantage midway done the 2nd half.

Kevin De Bruyne — making his 125th planetary quality — acceptable up Godts connected the near flank, and the Belgium fig 10 chopped wrong and dribbled past 3 defenders earlier slotting past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Godts, who precocious joined Paris Saint-Germain, turned defender Gianluca Mancini the incorrect way, and his chap centre-back Diego Coppola came sliding successful excessively late.

Coppola was playing successful spot of Alessandro Bastoni, who was suspended aft being sent disconnected successful the nonaccomplishment to Bosnia.

The counterattack began with a mediocre walk from midfielder Alessandro Romano, who was making his Italy debut aft switching planetary allegiance from Switzerland.

Belgium’s 2nd besides came connected a counterattack arsenic Lukebakio scored from beyond the country aft midfielder Sandro Tonali ran backmost successful a hopeless effort to halt him.

Mancini’s starting lineup contained 8 players who had featured regularly during the World Cup qualifying campaign.

The 61-year-old Mancini led the Azzurri to the European Championship rubric successful 2021, but shockingly resigned arsenic Italy manager successful August 2023, taking implicit Saudi Arabia’s nationalist squad 2 weeks later.

It volition not get immoderate easier for Italy, who sojourn Turkiye connected Monday and past spell to France adjacent Friday, earlier hosting Turkiye successful Bologna to reason the archetypal signifier of Nations League matches.