Mancini: Italy's Nations League results a pleasant surprise
Roberto Mancini admits Italy’s competitiveness in the Nations League has come as something of a surprise as the Azzurri prepare for a crucial meeting with France.
UEFA Nations League A · Group A1
Italy have taken seven points from their opening four games, leaving them three behind leaders France and one ahead of third-placed Belgium. Both rivals await this week: Zinedine Zidane’s Bleus visit San Siro on Thursday, before the Azzurri travel to Brussels on Sunday.
Expectations were relatively low when Euro 2020-winning coach Mancini returned to the dugout. Italy had become the first former World Cup winners to miss three successive editions of the tournament, and Pep Guardiola and several other coaches had turned down the role this summer.
A 2-0 defeat to Belgium in Mancini’s first game back offered a worrying start. Since then, however, Italy have beaten Turkiye home and away, either side of an encouraging 1-1 draw with France in Paris.
“This seems positive to me, and, considering how things started, it’s a little unexpected.”
Mancini believes qualification remains within reach, but wants his side to build on their recent progress.
“We want to confirm and improve on the previous performances, and seeing as we have seven points and two games left to play, we can still qualify, too,” he said.
A different test at San Siro
France were without Kylian Mbappe for the previous meeting, and he will also miss Thursday’s match after complaining of discomfort in his thigh.
Even without Mbappe in Paris, France kept Italy under sustained pressure. Gianluigi Donnarumma made seven saves, compared with one from Mike Maignan at the other end, to help the Azzurri leave the Stade de France with a point.
“We had a good game in France, including in those moments when we had to defend, because they are a great team,” Mancini said.
“France kept us pinned back, and in the second half, Gigio rescued us. Tomorrow’s game will be different. We will try to win against one of the best sides in the world.”
Mancini also praised his opposite number: “Zidane has won almost every match, he knows those players very well, he won so much at Real Madrid too, and I think he will have a great career at international level.”
