Italy crisis continues with home loss to Belgium before unfilled stadium on Mancini’s return

ROME (AP) — Six months on from failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, four-time champion Italy is still struggling.

Italy was beaten 2-0 at home by World Cup quarterfinalist Belgium in the Nations League on Friday in the Azzurri’s first match since a playoff loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March.

Roberto Mancini marked his return to Italy’s bench three years after he abandoned the job for a lucrative deal to coach Saudi Arabia and he appeared frustrated on the touchline.

By contrast, it was a successful debut for new Belgium coach Mark van Bommel, the former Netherlands international who was hired when Rudi Garcia left after the World Cup.

Only 47,155 spectators showed up in the 70,000-seat Stadio Olimpico and the home fans were already whistling 20 minutes in after Mika Godts put the visitors ahead with his first international goal.

Dodi Lukebakio doubled Belgium’s advantage midway through the second half.

At the final whistle, Italy was loudly whistled off the pitch.

“When we lose, nobody is happy,” Mancini said. “When you lose, you can get jeered.”

Kevin De Bruyne — making his 125th international appearance — set up Godts on the left flank and the Belgium No. 10 cut inside and dribbled by three defenders before slotting past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Godts, who recently joined Paris Saint-Germain, sent defender Gianluca Mancini turning the wrong way and then fellow center back Diego Coppola came sliding in too late.

Coppola was playing in place of Alessandro Bastoni, who was suspended after being sent off in the loss to Bosnia.

The counterattack began with a poor pass from midfielder Alessandro Romano, who was making his Italy debut after switching international allegiance from Switzerland.

Belgium’s second also came on a counterattack as Lukebakio scored from beyond the area after midfielder Sandro Tonali ran back in a desperation effort to stop him.

“We left gaps and conceded two avoidable goals,” Italy fullback Riccardo Calafiori said. “There’s a lot of work to do.”

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Mancini’s starting lineup contained eight players who had featured regularly during the World Cup qualifying campaign.

The 61-year-old Mancini led the Azzurri to the European Championship title in 2021 but shockingly resigned as Italy coach in August 2023, taking over Saudi Arabia’s national team two weeks later.

It doesn’t get any easier for Italy, which visits Turkey on Monday and then goes to France next Friday before hosting Turkey in Bologna to conclude the first phase of Nations League matches.

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See AP’s full soccer coverage here