Started in Bursa, Italy's football reconstruction work continues: always with Turkey. Roberto Mancini's new Italian management enjoyed its first success in Italy. After the defeat on debut (0-2) and the boos at the Olimpico, the goleada on Turkish soil (1-4) and the near miss in France, Italy prevailed at the Dall'Ara, the stronghold of the coach who exploded as a footballer in Bologna and is always considered at home under the Two Towers.
No goleada, the 3-1 to the Turkish national team is the result of a less sparkling performance than the first leg, but still with positive feedback from the young players, Romano and Doumbia in particular.
Scamacca broke the deadlock, in the 26th minute, able to take advantage of Kabak's indecision on a rebound caused by Doumbia following Di Lorenzo's cross: under pressure, the Atalanta striker made no mistake with a counterattack, finding the second goal of his career in the blue shirt. Calafiori's first goal for Italy is also needed, as he enters the match in progress and decides it after Simsir's equalizer, and in Bologna in which he won the Champions League and the national team. It ends 3-1, with the usual goal from Pio Esposito, his seventh goal in 13 appearances, with a solid performance from Doumbia and assists from Di Lorenzo, Barella and Romano.
Italy, thanks also to France's 4-1 win over Belgium in Saint Denis, takes three points which are worth the momentary second place in the Nations group and already the certainty of third and of the top seeding role in the draw for the European Championship qualifiers. Turkey remains at zero, and is waiting to understand the fate of coach Montella. The Italian team is a reconstruction which sees Mancini change 9/11 compared to the match against France, with Donnarumma and Bastoni confirmed as the only players.
The midfield and attack are completely revised and this is also why Italy is struggling to take command of the operations: first time as a starter for Vergara and Doumbia, second for Maldini, Romano returns to the control room and up front to complete the Scamacca trident, demonstrating that this first round of the Nations League is useful for Mancini to mentally recover some elements of the old guard, but also to expand and verify a new generation on which to re-found the national team and expand the rotations. Italy wins and gets Montella in trouble, increasingly in the balance and arriving in Bologna without the suspended Arda Guler, Yilmaz and again without Calhanoglu. A match that sees Italy struggling to take command of the operations at the start and to find the right measures in midfield, where Doumbia has the license to attack and support Scamacca, but Vergara and Maldini struggle to break through on the flanks. And Barella and Romano also struggle to find agreement and measures in the non-possession phase. So it's Donnarumma who saves first on Kabak and then on Akgun. Italy is woken up by Romano, who in the 23rd minute finds the central pocket for Scamacca, who scores: but he is offside.
On the second attempt, however, he doesn't forgive. The central maneuver finds its outlet on the right wing, where Di Lorenzo crosses. Doumbia attacks the area and heads the ball, Kabak blocks but Scamacca is the quickest of all on the rebound. Italy ahead, but doesn't break up and at the start of the second half risks something with a couple of risky constructions from below. And then Mancini changes: Kayode and Calafiori come on, as well as Pio Esposito: the striker plays a defensive role, the build-up finds more quality from the first touches and in the 52nd minute Doumbia comes close to doubling the lead with yet another insertion.
The equalizer arrives: Simsir scores on an assist from Celik, but in the 64th minute Calafiori takes care of it. He played his last match at Dall'Ara on 20 May 2024, scoring a brace against Juventus with the Bologna shirt, in the Champions League year and a few minutes after his arrival, following Barella's cross, he overtook Elmali and headed the ball into the top corner. A save from Donnarumma on Ozcan is also needed ten minutes after the draw, to secure the 2-1, before the usual Esposito closes it after an overflowing action from Doumbia and an assist from Romano.
