France and Italy face off as the national team loses momentum

While France still seems capable of producing players who entertain and win, Italy finds itself having to accept these latest two defeats in the Nations League, both 1‑0, and to face an uncertain future towards Euro 2032.

Roberto Mancini and the evaluation of the National Team

A dreadful first half was needed to discover that Italy has long ceased to be the aristocracy of European football. Probably not, but even the second half, hailed as good by Roberto Mancini and generally by the Azzurri, ended in a defeat. In the post‑match analyses, it is as if the National Team last night at the Olimpico had played two games.

The problem is that it lost both 1‑0, which would lead one to suggest to the coach to combine them, rather than separate them, in his assessments. Otherwise the risk of ending up with two defeats instead of one would become very real.

France and Turkey: examples of talent

France and Turkey have also made the World Cup, for better or worse. They too have players we dream about, they too will show up for the next commitments without their respective stars, Mbappé and Yildiz, but they have Olise and Arda Güler, and many others who do what we have forgotten in Italy.

‘They’, moreover, did not have a player like Doku, whom we have dreamed of for years: one who makes a dribble, that draws a smile, a dive into the heart. We are not lacking high‑level players, we lack those who know how to excite.

We approach this Nations League with a dream – to snatch a seeded spot in the draw for Euro 2032 – but what we need is realism: we have to hope not to be relegated.

The little fairy‑tale that Italy gives its best when under pressure is not true in itself: in 2006 we came from Calciopoli, certainly, but we had Del Piero, Totti and Pirlo. Today at most we come from a small scandal, but we do not have even a half‑number 10.

And it is better to prepare ourselves: it will be extremely tough even with France and Turkey. Buckle up.