PARMA, ITALY – AUGUST 22: (LR) Leonardo Bonucci and Roberto Mancini attend the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Ennio Tardini on August 22, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Luca Amedeo Bizzarri/Getty Images)
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Friday at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).
The Nations League Group A is completed by France and Vincenzo Montella’s Turkiye.
This is a return to the Nazionale for the coach, who won the EURO 2020 trophy and then walked away controversially in the summer of 2023.
Mancini back for Italy
“Tomorrow will be emotional, of course. We had some enormous satisfactions in this stadium and hope to add another tomorrow,” Mancini told Sky Sport Italia.
He was at the helm when Italy failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, but after his departure, they also missed out on the 2026 edition of the tournament when losing on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Unfortunately, this is football, you can lose games sometimes in absurd fashion. But the good thing about the sport is that it gives you an opportunity to make up for it immediately. We must keep it in mind, but then focus on the future.”
There are some new faces in the side, including Cagliari midfielder Alessandro Romano and Brentford right-back Michael Kayode, but Mancini warns he cannot revolutionise the squad too quickly.
“We had only two training sessions, as Monday was recovery work. We got to know a couple of lads a little better, who we had only seen when scouting, and that certainly helped to get to understand them.”
Although the Azzurri are expected to set out in a 4-3-3 formation tomorrow, there are quite a few doubts over who will start, especially in the trident attack.
As they get closer to the game, rumours are growing that Kean could play alongside Pio Esposito rather than have them as alternatives for the centre-forward role.
“Yes, it’s possible. We have many possibilities and the lads are eager, so I hope to make the right choices,” concluded Mancini.