Nations League: Mancini doesn't want to stop, but Frattesi loses

The enthusiasm is back, together with the newfound pleasure of being invited to dinner with the big names of Europe. The 3-1 defeat to France at San Siro gives the national team an evening to remember, the lost scent of 'Great Italy' and fuels that confidence that seemed to have been lost after the initial difficulties of the Nations League journey and after the three World Cups seen from the sofa. Italy had fallen into the third world of football, now it returns to the table of the best.

From Belgium to Belgium, the circle must close: the worrying first half of the debut just over a month ago is now a distant memory, now there is first place in the group to defend and a quarter-final to conquer. The only thing to avoid is defeat so as not to throw everything overboard, with two results out of three available. Abacus in hand. Three points or the same result as France guarantee a top position with all the relative advantages: in addition to already being seeded for the Euro2028 qualifiers, the Azzurri would end up in a group of four teams and not five.

A match with the contemporary success of Les Bleus would, however, be worth a place among the best eight in Europe. However, the party is partially ruined by the news of the injury of Frattesi, scorer of the overtaking goal against the French: replaced due to a muscle strain, he is forced to leave the Appiano Gentile meeting. A significant loss given his performance alongside Tonali and Barella. The Lazio midfielder is the agitator who causes trouble for the opposing order. "Sunday can already change everything", the warning from Mancini who is wary of euphoria.

But Giovanni Malagò also comes to underline the value of the victory, who on social media celebrated not only the result, but the rediscovered bond between team and fans. The extraordinary commissioner of the FIGC speaks of a rekindled feeling, of identity, of enthusiasm and of a positive energy returned to the environment. An acknowledgment of the work of Mancini and his staff, capable of rebuilding from the rubble. Beppe Bergomi also promotes the Azzurri, assigning the performance a 7.5 and launching into a prediction on Pio Esposito, now immovable in the role of center forward: "He's the one who can beat Riva's record". 26 goals missing, an infinite number. Words that certify how much the perception of this national team has changed. Now, however, the last step is needed, on Sunday in Brussels.