Italy begin Francesco Pio Esposito, Moise Kean, Alessandro Romano and Sandro Tonali in Roberto Mancini’s first recreation again, as they host Kevin De Bruyne’s Belgium within the Nations League opener.
It kicks off e at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).
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These sides are in Nations League Group A together with France and Vincenzo Montella’s Turkiye.
Roberto Mancini on the Italy coaching session in September 2026 (figc.it)
Mancini gained the EURO 2020 event and controversially walked away in August 2023, however s underneath Luciano Spalletti and Gennaro Gattuso, plus caretaker Silvio Baldini.
Alessandro Bastoni is suspended, with Federico Dimarco, Marco Palestra and Bryan Cristante injured, whereas Nicolò Zaniolo was additionally dominated out by health points for this recreation.
It’s set to be a 4-3-3 formation with Riccardo Calafiori for the primary time replicating his Arsenal position at left-back slightly than central defence, and Diego Coppola most well-liked to Giorgio Scalvini.
UDINE, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Riccardo Calafiori of Italy seems to be on through the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Israel at Stadio Friuli on October 14, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photos)
Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s presence at right-back means Italy can shift to a 3-5-2 when wanted, with Nicolò Cambiaghi on the opposite facet.
Romano makes his Azzurri debut in midfield, having switched allegiance from Switzerland, flanked by Tonali and Nicolò Barella.
Kean and Pio Esposito begin collectively upfront slightly than battling for a similar spot, with Sebastiano Esposito on the bench.
PARMA, ITALY – AUGUST 22: Alessandro Romano of Cagliari Calcio celebrates after scoring his crew’s first goalduring the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Ennio Tardini on August 22, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photograph by Luca Amedeo Bizzarri/Getty Photos)
Belgium are additionally making their debut underneath a brand new coach, former Milan midfielder Van Bommel, who hasn’t been on a touchline since 2024.
He brings the basic Dutch 4-3-3 formation to the job, and might depend on loads of present and former Serie A expertise.
PORTO, PORTUGAL – NOVEMBER 07: Mark van Bommel, Head Coach of Royal Antwerp, seems to be on previous to the UEFA Champions League match between FC Porto and Royal Antwerp FC at Estadio do Dragao on November 07, 2023 in Porto, Portugal. (Photograph by Octavio Passos/Getty Photos)
Leandro Trossard, Jeremy Doku and Andre Onana are out injured, with Thibaut Courtois neglected for this run of video games by mutual consent.
Milan defender Koni De Winter, Kyriani Sabbe and Malick Fofana are additionally despatched to the stands.
DUSSELDORF, GERMANY – JULY 01: Kevin De Bruyne of Belgium through the UEFA EURO 2024 spherical of 16 match between France and Belgium at Düsseldorf Enviornment on July 01, 2024 in Dusseldorf, Germany. (Photograph by Alex Livesey/Getty Photos)
Napoli midfielder De Bruyne and Atalanta ahead Charles De Ketelaere begin, with Mika Godts shifting Milan summer season signing Diego Moreira over to the correct instead of Dodi Lukebakio.
Bologna defender Arthur Theate and Parma midfielder Mandela Keita are on the bench, with ex-Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku and Juventus-owned Lois Openda.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JULY 10: Charles De Ketelaere #17 of Belgium celebrates scoring his crew’s first objective through the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Last match between Spain and Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium on July 10, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photograph by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Photos)
Italy vs. Belgium official line-ups
Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Coppola, Calafiori; Barella, Romano, Tonali; Kean, P Esposito, Cambiaghi
Italy bench: Carnesecchi, Vicario, Kayode, Ahanor, Raspadori, Scamacca, Mandragora, Doumbia, Frattesi, Zoma, Scalvini, Maldini
Belgium: Lammens; Castagne, Ngoy, Mechele, De Cuyper; Raskin, De Bruyne, Tielemans; Moreira, De Ketelaere, Godts
Belgium bench: Vandervoort, De Busser, Debast, Theate, Lavia, Lukaku, Openda, Lukebakio, Keita, Seys, Vanaken, Fernandez-Pardo
Ref: Siebert (GER)