Calcio Society · https://calciosociety.news/opinion/italy-0-2-belgium-mancinis-return-exposes-how-far-the-azzurri-have-fallen-148624
Italy 0-2 Belgium: Mancini's return exposes how far the Azzurri have fallen
27.09.26, 16:40 5 Minute Read
Roberto Mancini said before kick-off that a new chapter was beginning. On Friday night at the Stadio Olimpico, the first page of it made for grim reading. Belgium, also under a new coach in Mark van Bommel, won 2-0 in Rome with goals from Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio, and the scoreline flattered the hosts. Italy were booed off by a crowd of 47,155, and after one game of their Nations League campaign they are already without a point in League A Group 1.
It was supposed to be the start of a reset after a third consecutive World Cup failure. Instead, it confirmed that the problems run far deeper than the name on the dugout.
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Andrea Locorotondo is an SJA- and AIPS-accredited sports journalist with venue access across UEFA and FIFA competitions. He is the founder and editor of Calcio Society, and co-founded the independent Aston Villa title The Holte Roar.