Italy manager Roberto Mancini has dropped 10 players from his squad ahead of their upcoming Nations League fixture in Turkey, following a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico that left the Azzurri reeling from rare home struggles and intense fan jeers.
Mancini Leaves Ten Players Behind as Italy Adjusts Squad for Turkey Trip
Roberto Mancini has reshuffled his selection by leaving 10 players behind at the Coverciano training center while traveling with a trimmed group of 23 players for their next Nations League assignment.
The group remaining in Italy for specialized training sessions includes prominent names across domestic and international clubs. The Italian Football Federation confirmed that the players staying behind at Coverciano are Nicolo Barella, Honest Ahanor, Diego Coppola, Samuele Inacio, Eddy Kouadio, Daniel Maldini, Gianluca Mancini, Massimo Pessina, Samuele Ricci, and Mohamed Ali Zoma. Alongside them, several members of the coaching and performance staff—including Massimo Maccaroni, Cristiano Lupatelli, Giulio Nuciari, and Luca Pussi, accompanied by medical and physiotherapy personnel—stayed at the camp to oversee their programs.
Stadio Olimpico Defeat and Defensive Vulnerabilities Against Belgium
The squad changes follow an opening match defeat in the group stage, where Belgium claimed a 2-0 victory in Rome through goals from Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio. The loss marked a historic low point for the hosts, representing only the second time in 40 years that Italy has lost a home match by at least two goals without scoring, echoing a friendly defeat against Croatia in August 2006.
Statistics from the encounter underline a game of two distinct halves. Belgium accumulated 2.5 of their 2.7 expected goals before the interval, while Gianluigi Donnarumma made six saves to keep Italy afloat. Mancini admitted that the initial 45 minutes failed to meet required standards.
Player Reqeusts and Fan Frustrations in Rome
Frustrated supporters jeered the team off the pitch at the final whistle, compounding the weight on a squad that has already missed out on each of the last three World Cups. Defender Riccardo Calafiori acknowledged the painful atmosphere after winning possession eight times and creating three chances during the match.
Squad Availability and Upcoming Group Fixtures
The broader roster complications began before the Belgium fixture even kicked off. Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni was unavailable due to a suspension stemming from a red card during the World Cup play-off final against Bosnia and Herzegovina in March. While Bastoni joined the national team break, he remained ineligible for the opening game.
With an initial pool of 34 players called up for the international window, strict matchday limits mean only 23 players can be selected for each fixture. Following the match against Belgium, the travelling party headed to Bursa to face Turkey at the Ataturk Spور Stadium, with subsequent matches scheduled against France and a return fixture against Turkey in Bologna.
