Probable Italy vs. Belgium line-ups and latest injury news
Roberto Mancini at the Italy training session in September 2026 (figc.it)
Italy tested Moise Kean and Francesco Pio Esposito together for the Nations League clash, while Belgium are without injured Leandro Trossard, but could start Napoli’s Kevin De Bruyne.
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Friday at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).
This is the opening fixture of the Nations League for the Azzurri, who are in a group along with France and Vincenzo Montella’s Turkiye.
Roberto Mancini is without suspended Alessandro Bastoni, who was sent off in the World Cup play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina, plus Federico Dimarco and Bryan Cristante pulled out due to injury.
Most of the starting XI seems to be agreed, with Giovanni Di Lorenzo preferred to Michael Kayode, while Diego Coppola will step in if Giorgio Scalvini is not 100 per cent fit.
The only doubts are in attack, as Inter striker Pio Esposito will start, but his partners remain a mystery.
Nicolò Zaniolo and Nicolò Cambiaghi are doing battle for the right flank, while Kean is increasingly confident of getting the nod after today’s training session.
Alternatives are Daniel Maldini and Giacomo Raspadori.
Belgium are also making their debut under a new coach, former Milan midfielder Mark van Bommel.
They have made the trip to Italy without Leandro Trossard and goalkeeper Mike Penders, the Besiktas winger dealing with a bruised heel, but they hope to be ready for some of the other games in this break for international duty.
Thibaut Courtois, injured Andre Onana and Jeremy Doku are left out, while Thomas Meunier and Alexis Saelemaekers didn’t get call-ups.
There are quite a few Serie A players in the squad list, including Milan’s Diego Moreira and Koni De Winter, Bologna defender Arthur Theate, Parma midfielder Mandela Keita, Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere and of course Napoli star De Bruyne.
Lois Openda is on loan at Lyon from Juventus, with Romelu Lukaku only recently leaving Napoli for Fenerbahce.
Van Bommel hasn’t worked as a coach for two years, so his approach may well be a bit of a mystery, but it’s rumoured his 4-2-3-1 should be mutated into a 4-3-3 after training ground exercises.
De Ketelaere was used as a False 9 at the World Cup and could be there again, considering Lukaku’s fitness levels.
Moreira can play on the right, but has always been on the left so far for Belgium, so faces strong competition from Paris Saint-Germain’s €45m signing Mika Godts.
Italy (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Coppola, Calafiori; Barella, Romano,Tonali; Zaniolo (Cambiaghi), P Esposito, Kean
Belgium (4-3-3): Lammens; Seys, Ngoy, Mechele, De Cuyper; Tielemans, De Bruyne, Lavia; Lukebakio, Lukaku, Godts
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