Italy-Belgium 0-2: Mancini defends the team after the negative debut in the Nations League

Italy in the sign of continuity, the one that disappoints however. The time of the Italian renaissance still seems far from coming, because in fact the national team in the first outing of the new management signed by Roberto Mancini did not appear very different in performance from the one that last March, against Bosnia, failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row. An infinite crisis that of Italian football, which passes from the field to the palace, the federal one which barely travels with the heavy shadow of the administration.

Those who expected a breakthrough, the first spark of a new fire of enthusiasm, in Rome saw a team defeated by Van Bommel's Belgium and accompanied in their exit by the boos of the Olimpico crowd. The anticipation was there - also demonstrated by the over 6.3 million viewers on Rai 1 for the match which, with a 34.2% share, was the most watched program of the prime time - but the response was lacking.

A debut with defeat is not a disgrace for a coach - many others have failed at the first, such as Marcello Lippi who in 2004 lost in a friendly against Iceland before winning the World Cup in Germany -, but the new calendar of the Nations League, with its four very close matches and with heavy opponents, imposes an immediate reaction, a change of direction on the tactical front and in the commitment of the individuals.

Donnarumma aside, practically no one deserved a pass, both among the senators, from Di Lorenzo to Tonali to Barella, and among the debutants, such as Romano and Coppola. Solutions and alternatives are urgently needed, because another misstep on Monday against Turkey in Istanbul would already be a boulder not only on the path to the tournament but also on an entire technical project that emerged with so much effort from the ashes of Zenica.

Furthermore, yet another blue flop would certainly not help to shore up the presidency of Giovanni Malagò, who is under the threat of being placed under commissionership, just over three months after the election. Aware of the delicate nature of the situation, the federal no.1 will go to Türkiye to support the Azzurri from the sidelines, while the CONI's decisions on the membership issue are awaited.

The Council will meet urgently next Tuesday, but at the moment on the agenda is the situation of the Weightlifting Federation following the resignation of the president. Finally, but it is certainly not the least important point, we need to win back the affection and passion of the fans and the only way to do this is to win, possibly even by playing well. On the pitch the Azzurri not only lost, the match was dominated by Belgium.

"The performance did not fall short of expectations", commented Mancini, however, according to whom in the first half "Belgium played better, in the second half we did very well until the counterattack of their 2-0 lead". The coach defended the team, which, between absences and suspensions, new additions and a few days to work, too often found itself at a loss when faced with a compact, lucid and overall stronger national team. Corrective measures are needed, and quickly, in view of Turkey, which in turn cannot afford not to take full spoils on Monday in Istanbul after the narrow defeat against France.

Mancini dedicated Saturday to working, especially with his mind and that of the players, on Cpo Giulio Onesti. The Azzurri appeared concentrated and eager to react, because the whistles from the Olimpico certainly did not please. The stadium in Istanbul will be bedlam and a cool head will also be needed to manage a match that risks being 'in or out'. We knew it, we feared it, and now we hope that the slap suffered by De Bruyne and his teammates will provoke the right reaction.