New coaches begin with a high-stakes clash: Italy vs Belgium prediction
The UEFA Nations League opening-round clash between Italy and Belgium will take place on September 25 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. The teams will begin their Group 1 campaign in League A alongside France and Turkey, with both entering the new cycle after changes in the dugout: Roberto Mancini has returned to the Italy job, while Belgium have appointed Mark van Bommel.
Italy: Mancini returns as another rebuild begins
Italy have once again been left without a place at the World Cup, losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties in the qualifying playoffs. After a brief spell under Silvio Baldini, the federation brought Roberto Mancini back, and he must now build a team with the next European Championship in mind.
The squad has undergone significant changes, while several key players are unavailable. Alessandro Bastoni is suspended, while Federico Dimarco, Bryan Cristante and Manuel Locatelli are injured. With Mateo Retegui absent from the attack, Moise Kean, Gianluca Scamacca, Sebastiano Esposito and Pio Esposito are competing for the starting role up front.
Belgium: van Bommel takes over after a strong World Cup
Belgium reached the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, where they narrowly lost to eventual champions Spain. Before that defeat, the Red Devils had gone 18 matches unbeaten, giving the new coach a team with a solid foundation to work from.
At the same time, the squad overhaul is continuing. Axel Witsel has retired from international football, Mats Sels has also left the national team, Thibaut Courtois has taken a break, while André Onana and Leandro Trossard are injured. Jérémy Doku was not included in the squad either after his recent return to action, but van Bommel can still call on Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Italy have won four of their last five matches against Belgium.
- Before their defeat to Spain, Belgium had gone 18 matches unbeaten.
- Both national teams are starting a new Nations League cycle with new head coaches.
The rebuild could make this a cautious affair: Italy vs Belgium prediction
Both teams boast plenty of quality players, but they are also going through personnel and tactical changes. Mancini is rebuilding Italy from the ground up, while van Bommel is only beginning to implement his ideas with the Belgian national team.
In these circumstances, it is difficult to expect a fully polished performance in the opening round. Italy have the advantage of playing at home, but Belgium's attacking threat gives the visitors every chance of scoring in reply, making a closely fought match a highly plausible scenario.
