Pio Esposito Key as Bastoni leads Italy’s revival under Mancini
Nine new faces were called into the Azzurri squad, including Pio Esposito Key and Alessandro Bastoni, as Roberto Mancini began his first international window after a turbulent off‑field period that saw Andrea Pirlo rejected as head coach, Paolo Maldini resign and Mancini rehired following the sacking of the former Manchester City boss.
The decision not to appoint Andrea Pirlo and the subsequent resignation of Paolo Maldini as Italy’s sporting director left the Italian federation scrambling for stability. Roberto Mancini, who was dismissed as Manchester City manager after missing the 2022 World Cup only six months after guiding Italy to Euro 2020 glory, returned to the helm amid intense scrutiny.
Questions loomed over whether the Azzurri could rebuild their identity ahead of Euro 2028 after failing to qualify for three consecutive World Cups – 2022, 2024 and most recently 2026 – a first in the nation’s history. The lack of tournament experience heightened the pressure on the new coaching setup.
Results in the Nations League
The opening fixture proved a rude awakening as Italy lost 2‑0 to Belgium on home soil. Mancini’s side recovered to draw 1‑1 with France at the Stade de France, then completed a double over Turkey with a 7‑2 aggregate across the two legs.
These mixed outcomes offered a platform for experimentation while highlighting the need for consistency as the Azzurri aim to climb the Nations League table.
Italy top of the group for Euro 2028 with win over Turkey
Defensive solidity and midfield balance
In defence, Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini partnered Alessandro Bastoni to provide quality and stability when fit, while Brentford full‑back Michael Kayode impressed with blistering speed and a superb debut goal.
Midfield saw Sporting’s Issa Doumbia display physical maturity and precise passing, and Cagliari’s rising star Alessandro Romano remain composed, adding his first assist in the final match‑week of the break.
These performances underlined Mancini’s willingness to blend youth with experience, signalling that regulars such as Nicolo Barella and Federico Dimarco could lose their places without consistent output.
Italy kicks off a new era, secured top seed for Euro 2028
Pio Esposito rose to prominence, delivering a brace and an assist across the four matches, establishing himself as the focal point of Italy’s attack. Meanwhile, Alessandro Bastoni, despite earlier criticism after a red‑card incident involving Pierre Kalulu and a costly tackle against Bosnia, showed resilience by scoring two goals in the window, one of which secured the draw with France.
Bastoni’s leadership on the back‑four and Esposito’s goal contributions suggest a new core for the Azzurri as they look toward qualifying for Euro 2028.