Nations League: Italy vs. Belgium – probable line-ups, where to watch on TV
Italy training session overseen by coach Roberto Mancini in September 2026 (figc.it)
Francesco Pio Esposito will lead Italy’s attack in the opening game of Roberto Mancini’s second stint as Azzurri boss, while Alessandro Romano will make his senior debut.
It kicks off at 20:45 CET [19:45 BST] at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
It is Mancini’s first game in charge of the Azzurri since his return to the dugout last July.
Mancini already coached the Italy national team from 2018 to 2023, winning the Euros in 2021 but failing to qualify for the World Cup the following year.
Alessandro Bastoni is suspended for this evening’s game, so Mancini is expected to look to Gianluca Mancini and Diego Coppola at centre-back.
Giorgio Scalvini is available on the bench, but he didn’t train with the rest of the team on Tuesday, so he won’t start against Belgium.
Cagliari midfielder Romano will make his senior debut with the Azzurri, and Pio Esposito will lead the attack. The 21-year-old Inter striker has already scored five goals in nine international appearances.
Mancini’s main doubt is on the left wing, where Football Italia understands Moise Kean is the favourite over Daniel Maldini and Giacomo Raspadori.
The Belgium team includes some familiar Serie A faces, with ex-Milan midfielder Mark Van Bommel making his debut as the new coach.
Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta) and Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli) are expected to start, while Milan’s Diego Moreira challenges Mika Godts for a starting spot on the left wing.
The match will be broadcast live on Amazon Prime Video in the UK and Ireland and on Fox Sports 2, fuboTV, ViX, and FOX One in the USA.
Football Italia will be among the accredited media at the Olimpico, following the game with a live blog and commenting on the match with a LIVE post-match show on our YouTube channel, to which you can subscribe here.
Italy vs. Belgim – probable line-ups
Italy (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Coppola, Calafiori; Barella, Romano, Tonali; Cambiaghi, P. Esposito, Kean.
Belgium (4-3-3): Lammens; Castagne, Mechele, Ngoy, De Cuyper; Lavia, De Bruyne, Tielemans; Lukebakio, De Ketelaere, Godts.
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