Mancini praised for three gambles in Italy 3-1 France victory

MILAN - NOVEMBER 12: Roberto Mancini, Head Coach of Italy, gestures during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Italy and France at San Siro Stadium on November 12, 2026 in Milan. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

The mood in Italy is overwhelmingly positive following Thursday evening’s 3-1 Nations League victory over France, and head coach Roberto Mancini has earned praise from the media in Italy for three specific personnel decisions he made before and during the game. 

Mancini praised for three personnel decisions in Italy 3-1 France

Italy are currently sat at the top of their Nations League group, unbeaten after four matches with 10 points to their name following Thursday’s 3-1 victory over France, which saw the Azzurri leapfrog Les Bleus into top spot. Michael Olise, Pio Esposito (x2) and Davide Frattesi provided the goals on the night. 

Much was made of the matchday squad that Mancini named on Thursday. Despite naming a 31-player squad featuring several young and untested talents at the beginning of the international break, there was disappointment from many supporters when it was confirmed that the in-form Alphadjo Cisse was not picked for the matchday squad against France. 

Mattia Liberali, Matteo Palma, Honest Ahanor, Federico Gatti and Niccolo Pisilli were also left off Thursday’s matchday squad. 

However, Mancini has since silenced those doubting his selections after beating France, the third-ranked team in the world, and a nation that Italy had not beaten at home since 1962. 

La Gazzetta dello Sport highlighted three specific personnel calls that Mancini made, beginning with the inclusion of Nicolo Cambiaghi on the right wing. 

The Bologna winger was in the stands at Olympiastadion in Berlin when Italy beat France in the final of the 2006 World Cup, and now 20 years later, is beginning to carve out a spot of his own in the Azzurri line-up. 

Cambiaghi lined up on the left wing in a traditional role coming in off the touchline and attacking the area, while Sebastiano Esposito lined up on the opposite side, often playing in the half-spaces closer to his brother Pio at centre-forward. 

La Gazzetta dello Sport praised Cambiaghi for his dribbling ability and the trouble that he caused France right-back Malo Gusto: The Chelsea full-back chopped down the Bologna man inside the area for Italy’s first penalty of the night. According to the Pink Paper, Cambiaghi’s performance left French reporters in the press box questioning ‘where did this guy come from?’. 

Mancini was also praised for two of his second-half substitutions, including the introduction of Antonio Vergara on the right-wing. Like Cambiaghi, his dribbling in and around the area caused issues for France and he was eventually chopped down inside the box as well, which earned Italy’s second spot-kick of the night. 

La Gazzetta dello Sport also praised the introduction of Federico Dimarco, whom they claim is not quite the same player as he was this time last year, especially in terms of goals and assists. 

With Italy’s move to a back four, the presence of Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori in the backline and the fact that Dimarco is not a natural left winger, it has been difficult for the Inter wing-back to claim a starting spot with the Azzurri since Mancini was brought back in as head coach. 

Dimarco was brought onto the left flank after an hour and provided the perfect cut-back for Frattesi to slam home at the near post to send Italy into a 2-1 lead almost less than two minutes after his introduction. 

Still, like the vast majority of reports in Italy, La Gazzetta dello Sport agrees that Pio Esposito was Italy’s man of the match on the night.