Belgium and Italy are preparing for their debut in the Nations League with new coaches and redemption targets

Starting from scratch to open a new era hoping it will be successful. Those of Italy and Belgium, who compete in the debut match in the Nations League, are two destinies that come together; in fact, the Red Devils also changed coach, saying goodbye to Rudi Garcia after his exit from the World Cup at the hands of Spain in the quarter-finals.

They have embraced the new course of Mark Van Bommel, the coach who knows Italy well having won a scudetto with Milan, and who seems to already have clear ideas about the philosophy that should animate the new Belgium. For Van Bommel, in fact, the one against Italy "is a great challenge for us", but above all the opportunity to try to complete what is a "double challenge" for his new national team: "we want to dominate the game and win. If we can do it tomorrow, we are on the right path", his words in the press conference. On the way to victory, however, the Belgium coach will find an Italy that "has the same problem as us. Mancini is also starting from scratch like me and the Azzurri, after 3 failures to qualify, will also want to do well", admits Van Bommel. He has faith in his men despite this: against the Azzurri "it won't be easy but it will certainly be a good match. It's not easy to prepare a match in just 3 or 4 days, but I hope to play a good match and return home with the 3 points", concludes the coach, demonstrating that he has a clear objective in mind.

A Belgium, the one that presents itself at the Olimpico in Rome, with several "Italians"; in the Red Devils squad, in fact, there are 6 players who play in Serie A - De Winter, Theate, De Bruyne, Keita, De Ketelaere and Moreira - in addition to the former Castagne, Openda and Lukaku. The latter, as Van Bommel points out, "needs some time but is working to get back to his best shape"; he will almost certainly not start, leaving the attack on the shoulders of Atalanta's De Ketelaere. The Belgian squad, according to captain Youri Tielemans, can play their chances of victory even against Mancini's new Italy because the Red Devils are "a good team". "There are few changes compared to the World Cup, we are strong and united. Ours is a very clear, very direct coach, we must show our character and the desire to never give up", concludes the footballer who, together with his teammates, will try to push Belgium to a victory which, against the Azzurri, they have lacked since 2015.