Historic humiliation! Mancini's return ends in a 40-year low for Italy

Roberto Mancini's second debut as Italy coach turned into a historic nightmare: a 0-2 home defeat to Belgium that wrote the wrong kind of history.

Details: Italy have lost a home game 0-2 or worse without scoring for only the second time in 40 years, after tonight's defeat at the Olimpico. The only other occasion was a friendly against Croatia on August 16, 2006, also 0-2. Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio scored for the World Cup quarterfinalists, silencing a Roma crowd that was far from full for Mancini's comeback.

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The context makes it hurt even more. This was Italy's first match since the World Cup playoff heartbreak against Bosnia and Herzegovina in March, the trauma that brought Mancini back to the bench. He had urged his players to forget that pain, but instead of a fresh start, the Azzurri delivered a performance so flat it entered the record books of shame. Belgium, meanwhile, looked like a side that belongs among the elite, punishing every Italian mistake with cold efficiency.

It's worth noting that Mancini has rebuilt Italy once before, taking them to European glory after the 2018 World Cup failure. He will need all of that magic again, because the atmosphere around the national team, empty seats included, tells the story of a broken bond between the Azzurri and their fans.

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