Italy opened its UEFA Nations League campaign with a 2-0 defeat against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Goals from Godts in the first half and Lukebakio after the interval secured the victory for the visitors, leaving manager Roberto Mancini facing immediate scrutiny as the Azzurri were met with boos from home supporters at the final whistle.
First-Half Struggles and Defensive Vulnerabilities
The match turned decisively in the 20th minute when a midfield turnover by debutant Romano led directly to the opening goal. Godts collected the loose ball, drove past the Italian defense, and slotted past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Giovanni Di Lorenzo struggled to contain the Belgian attack down the flank, where the visitors repeatedly created dangerous scoring opportunities.
Lukebakio Secures Victory as Pressure Mounts on Mancini
Trailing by a goal, Italy attempted to mount a response after the break, with Moise Kean hitting the woodwork early in the second period. However, Belgium extinguished any hopes of a comeback in the 69th minute when substitute Lukebakio scored the visitor’s second goal. Roberto Mancini, who returned to the national team bench following the team’s World Cup disappointment, acknowledged the difficult start. As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Mancini admitted his side played poorly for the first half before improving their territorial pressure after the interval, adding regarding the crowd’s reaction that the jeers “ci stanno” (are fair).
Late Tension and Match Statistics
The closing moments featured heated exchanges on the pitch. Romelu Lukaku, introduced as a second-half substitute for Belgium, was subjected to whistles from the home crowd and responded by putting a finger to his lips to quiet the Stadio Olimpico. At the final whistle, Donnarumma approached Lukaku, resulting in yellow cards for both players from German referee Felix Siebert. The fixture drew many spectators, generating a substantial gate receipt total, who ultimately voiced their frustration as the Italian squad approached the Curva to acknowledge the supporters.
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