Skip to main content
institutional access

You are connecting from
Lake Geneva Public Library,
please login or register to take advantage of your institution's Ground News Plan.

Published • loading... • Updated

Italy Crisis Continues with Home Loss to Belgium Before Unfilled Stadium on Mancini’s Return

Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio scored as Belgium spoiled Roberto Mancini’s return and left Italy with work to do after a third straight World Cup miss.

  • On Friday, Belgium defeated Italy 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico in their UEFA Nations League opener, marking a difficult return for Italy coach Roberto Mancini.
  • Returning to the Azzurri bench after a three-year hiatus, Mancini, who led Italy to Euro 2020 glory, faced a team reeling from a third consecutive World Cup qualification failure.
  • Paris Saint-Germain forward Mika Godts opened the scoring following a Kevin De Bruyne assist, while substitute Dodi Lukebakio doubled the lead with a 25-yard strike midway through the second half.
  • Only 47,155 spectators attended the 70,000-seat Stadio Olimpico, where the home crowd jeered at the full-time whistle, reflecting frustration over the four-time world champions' ongoing struggles.
  • Italy visits Turkey on Monday before traveling to France next Friday to conclude the first phase of Nations League matches, offering critical tests ahead.
Insights by Ground AI

257 Articles

Lean Left

We're reviewing Turkey's match against Italy in the second round of Level I competitions with the European Football Leagues, and the transmission channels.

Read Full Article
Lean Left

ITALY lost in the first match of the Nations League.

·Zagreb, Croatia
Read Full Article
Center

The coach split Italy's squad and left 10 players in Coverciano training alongside Barella and Maldini and out of the clash with Turkey

·Madrid, Spain
Read Full Article
Right

Italy's coach Roberto Mancini showed understanding for the displeasure of his own fans after his second term as a football national coach. "The whistles are understandable, Mancini said after the 0-2 of the former world champion in Rome against Belgium and emphasized: "But in the second half we were better.

·Vienna, Austria
Read Full Article
Center

For the beginnings of Mark van Bommel as a breeder, Belgium was brilliantly imposed in Italy. This meeting was widely commented on in the press. ...

·Brussels, Belgium
Read Full Article
Think freely.Subscribe and get full access to Ground NewsSubscriptions start at $9.99/yearSubscribe

Bias Distribution

  • 39% of the sources lean Left
39% Left

Factuality Info Icon

To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium

Ownership

Info Icon

To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage

Sözcü broke the news in Türkiye on Monday, September 21, 2026.
Too Big Arrow Icon
Sources are mostly out of (0)

Similar News Topics

News
Feed Dots Icon
For You
Search Icon
Search
Blindspot LogoBlindspotLocal