Italy begin another rebuild when Belgium visit the Stadio Olimpico for their Nations League opener on Friday night.
Roberto Mancini is back in charge of the Azzurri, three years after leaving the national team. His return follows another painful chapter for Italy, who failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Belgium have made a change of their own. Mark van Bommel replaced Rudi Garcia following the World Cup and will also take charge of his first game on Friday.
Both managers therefore have plenty to figure out. Mancini has named a huge 34-man squad featuring nine potential debutants, while Belgium arrive without Thibaut Courtois, Jérémy Doku and Amadou Onana.
This might be the start of two new eras, but there will still be plenty of familiar faces in Rome.
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What are the best betting tips for Italy vs Belgium?
Both teams to score
Neither side looks particularly easy to trust defensively heading into the new Nations League campaign.
Italy’s squad has changed considerably since the summer. Mancini has called up nine uncapped players as he starts looking towards the future, while Federico Dimarco has already withdrawn through injury.
Bryan Cristante is also unavailable and has been replaced by Samuele Ricci.
Belgium have problems of their own.
Courtois has asked to sit out this Nations League campaign to manage his workload. Doku and Onana are injured, while Axel Witsel has retired from international football.
There is still plenty of attacking quality available to both teams.
Italy can choose from Moise Kean, Gianluca Scamacca, Giacomo Raspadori and Francesco Pio Esposito.
Belgium have Romelu Lukaku, Lois Openda, Leandro Trossard and Charles De Ketelaere, with Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings behind them.
The previous meeting at the Olimpico also produced goals.
Italy went 2-0 ahead in October 2024 before Belgium fought back to earn a 2-2 draw.
With two managers trying to make an immediate impression, both teams finding the net looks more interesting than picking a winner.
Moise Kean to score or assist
Mancini has given himself plenty of attacking options, which makes predicting his first XI slightly awkward.
Moise Kean should be firmly in the conversation.
The Como striker has retained his place in the Italy setup, while Mancini has left Mateo Retegui out and included several younger forwards as part of his rebuild.
Belgium’s goalkeeper situation adds to the appeal.
Courtois is unavailable, leaving Senne Lammens, Mike Penders, Maarten Vandevoordt and uncapped Jari De Busser as Van Bommel’s four options.
Kean also gives Italy something Mancini will want from his centre-forward: pace in behind and the ability to occupy the centre-backs rather than constantly dropping away from goal.
Going for the combined market gives us another route if he creates rather than finishes Italy’s best chance.
Kevin De Bruyne 2+ shots
Kevin De Bruyne will know the Stadio Olimpico and plenty of the opposition well.
The Napoli midfielder is one of six Belgium players selected by Van Bommel who currently play in Serie A.
Doku’s absence could also put even more creative responsibility on De Bruyne.
Belgium still have plenty of pace and movement ahead of him through Openda, Lukaku, Trossard and Sunderland’s Malick Fofana.
However, De Bruyne remains the player most likely to dictate where Belgium attack from.
Two attempts is a low enough line to avoid needing Belgium to dominate the game.
Italy should have more of the ball at home, but that could actually leave opportunities for Belgium to attack quickly.
De Bruyne arriving behind the striker gives him chances to shoot from the edge of the box as well.
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What have the managers said?
Roberto Mancini:
Mancini has made no secret of what he wants from his second spell with Italy.
“I’m here to win.”
The returning manager also wants Italy to rediscover the style that helped them win Euro 2020 during his first spell.
“To win, you need a team that plays well, enjoys itself.”
Mancini admitted he needs to assess his new-look squad quickly, with Italy playing four Nations League matches in just 11 days.
He has also acknowledged that he has some work to do to win back supporters who were disappointed by the way his first spell ended.
“When a fan feels betrayed, you have to win them back.”
For Mancini, the aim is not simply winning again. He wants Italy to do it by playing well and controlling matches.
Mark van Bommel:
Van Bommel begins his first international management job after previously coaching PSV, Wolfsburg and Royal Antwerp.
The former Netherlands midfielder believes there is still considerable potential within this Belgium squad.
“Belgium has exceptional players and enormous potential.”
He has also outlined the identity he wants to build.
“We want to build a team that is disciplined, ambitious and brave enough to compete with the best.”
Van Bommel signed a deal through Euro 2028 after replacing Garcia during the summer. His first assignment could hardly be much bigger: Italy away at the Olimpico.
What is Italy’s predicted team?
(4-3-3) Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Scalvini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Barella, Tonali, Frattesi; Raspadori, Kean, Cambiaghi.
Injured: Manuel Locatelli, Federico Chiesa, Marco Palestra.
Unavailable: Federico Dimarco, Bryan Cristante.
Dimarco initially joined the squad but was sent home after medical checks showed he had not recovered from the injury he picked up with Inter. Matteo Ruggeri has replaced him, while Samuele Ricci has come in for Cristante.
Mancini has already suggested rotation will be necessary during a four-game international window, so his first starting XI is particularly difficult to pin down.
What is Belgium’s predicted team?
(4-2-3-1) Lammens; Castagne, De Winter, Theate, De Cuyper; Tielemans, Raskin; Trossard, De Bruyne, Fofana; Lukaku.
Injured: Jérémy Doku, Amadou Onana.
Unavailable: Thibaut Courtois.
Courtois asked to be left out of the Nations League campaign as the 34-year-old manages his workload. That leaves Van Bommel with a major decision in goal.
Doku’s injury is another significant absence, but Belgium remain well stocked going forward.
Lukaku and Openda are the established centre-forward options, while Trossard, Fofana, De Ketelaere, Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Dodi Lukebakio give Van Bommel several different combinations behind them.
Italy vs Belgium prediction
There are more questions than answers around both sides heading into this one.
Mancini has returned following Italy’s failure to reach the World Cup and immediately called up a mixture of established internationals and youngsters.
Van Bommel is starting from scratch too.
Belgium’s absences are significant, particularly Courtois and Doku, but their attack remains strong enough to cause Italy problems.
Home advantage could help the Azzurri, especially if the Olimpico responds positively to Mancini’s return. However, expecting everything to click immediately would be ambitious.
The previous meeting here finished 2-2.
Another tight game with chances at both ends would not be a surprise.
Score prediction: Italy 1-1 Belgium
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