Mancini confirms Frattesi and Cambiaghi out for Italy, Calafiori a doubt

MILAN - NOVEMBER 12: Roberto Mancini, Head Coach of Italy, speaks to Riccardo Calafiori 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)

Roberto Mancini has confirmed Italy will be without Davide Frattesi and Nicolò Cambiaghi for Sunday’s Nations League decider against Belgium, and Riccardo Calafiori is also a doubt.

With quotes via the Corriere dello Sport, Mancini told reporters he has already decided on his team for the game in Brussels, but he’ll check his players’ fitness at Sunday’s final training session first.

“Line-up? It’s all fairly clear in my head, we’ll see tomorrow,” Mancini said. “Tomorrow we’ll assess the physical condition of all the players, and we’ll test them in the final session, including the two or three who are doubtful.”

Mancini talks Italy team news vs. Belgium

Frattesi, who scored in Thursday’s 3-1 win over France, has left the camp with a muscle strain and is due to have a scan with Lazio on Monday. Cambiaghi has gone back to Bologna with an ankle problem after failing to recover.

“We were hoping to get Cambiaghi back, but he was still in pain this morning. We’ll replace him and Frattesi. Calafiori will also need to be assessed,” Mancini said.

It’s another setback for a squad that has already lost Nicolò Zaniolo, who left earlier this week for personal reasons.

Italy top Group A1 on goal difference, level with France on 10 points. They need only a draw at the King Baudouin Stadium to reach the quarter-finals, and a win would secure first place. Pio Esposito, who scored twice against France, is expected to lead the line again. The game kicks off at 20:45 CET [19:45 GMT].