Squadra Azzurra's attitude threatens the Nations League

This Friday, the Squadra Azzurra put on a bewildering show during the Nations League, with scandalous boos to the Belgian anthem and racist chants aimed at Romelu Lukaku, an attitude that caused the Italian crowd to lose all sympathy.

A hostile atmosphere

Our little finger tells us that, given the state of the Squadra, Italy needs Houdini rather than Mancini. Roberto Mancini, aware of the situation, can no longer afford to ignore these outbursts.

"Only Kate Moss is eternal," cites Stromae in his track "Tous les mêmes", reminding that Rome did not steal the name of the Eternal City. This cultural reference serves to highlight the strangeness of the moment.

The Squadra has missed three World Cups in a row, which ended its status as the capital of football. The prolonged absence of major titles fuels a sense of urgency.

Before kickoff, Italian supporters booed during the Belgian anthem, a gesture that was not seen in 2024. This hostility set the tone for a difficult first half.

Nations League Italy-Belgium: whistles at the Belgian anthem, applause for the Italian anthem

Racist chants, apparently launched by a handful of Lazio Rome supporters, targeted Romelu Lukaku, reminding that the Squadra has never had so many players of colour. These incidents have tarnished the image of Italian football.

Roberto Mancini's outlook

The second half was slightly better, perhaps thanks to tweaks by Roberto Mancini in the dressing room or an inexplicable dip in form of Mark Van Bommel's men. Nevertheless, the overall performance remains worrying.

Roberto Mancini knows it: he has a lot on his plate. European champion with a squad at the end of its cycle, he now counts only Gianluigi Donnarumma as a true asset.

Mancini disappointed, Belgium imposes its game on Italy

Calafiori, Cambiaghi, Barella and Kean are good players, but they are not cut from the cloth that stitches a star onto the shirt. The lack of top‑level talent is felt.

The Nations League aims to be the ideal laboratory for alchemist Mancini to find the perfect formula, but Italy already finds itself in a tricky position before heading to Turkey. A defeat in Bursa, where they travel on Monday, would leave them as the bottom lantern and threaten relegation to League B.