Damning newspaper verdicts as Mancini’s second Italy debut ends in defeat
ROME, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 25: Alessandro Romano of Italy compete for the ball with Brandon Mechele during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Italy and Belgium at Stadio Olimpico on September 25, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi/Getty Images)
The press in Italy have not looked favourably upon Roberto Mancini nor the Italy national team after the new era of the Nazionale started in defeat at home against Belgium in the Nations League on Friday night.
The Italy national team were treated to a round of boos from a half-empty Stadio Olimpico following goals from Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio in an eventual 2-0 loss against Mark van Bommel’s side.
The result leaves the Azzurri at the bottom of their Nations League group after the first round of fixtures, ahead of matches against Turkiye, France and Turkiye again over the next fortnight.
How did the Italian press react after Italy 0-2 Belgium?
Post-match reports on Saturday morning have not been too kind to Mancini or the Nazionale.
Many feel that the Azzurri are ‘stuck in Zenica’ referring to the World Cup play-off final defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina under Gennaro Gattuso at the end of March earlier this year.
La Gazzetta dello Sport writes that Mancini’s Italy side is “dirtier and uglier” than it was before. They admit that Belgium were excellent on the night, but that they were made to look even better due to Italy’s shortcomings.
The Pink Paper accused the Azzurri of lacking in identity, being tactically unprepared and making too many mistakes leading directly to goals, noting: “Italy were confused, afraid, lacking in ideas and were scrambled by a Belgium side without ever really reacting.”
The Corriere dello Sport agrees that Italy “were returning from Zenica, but stayed there for the entire first half,” that they were “worried, afraid and paralysed in the face of another defeat.”
Though this was supposed to be the start of a new era, the Corriere dello Sport writes that “we can pretend that it’s water under the bridge, but in reality, [the ghosts] are still there.”
Tuttosport, meanwhile, argued that there were only two Italy players who came away from the Belgium defeat with any credit, and they were goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who prevented the scoreline from looking worse, and winger Nicolo Cambiaghi, who created some of Italy’s minimal chances on the night.
La Stampa wrote that it was “no shock,” and agreed that Italy “seem to have remained in Zenica,” and that the new cycle “started in the worst possible way.”
La Stampa was heavily critical of some of Italy’s senior, established squad members such as Sandro Tonali, Nicolo Barella, Gianluca Mancini and Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
La Repubblica agreed that Belgium were the vastly superior side on the night, but that there was still a lot more expected from Mancini’s side. They noted that the first half was “an absolute disaster,” and that the recurring errors made the Azzurri look like “beginners.”
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