Belgium defeat Italy 2-0 in Rome in Mark van Bommel debut as manager

Debut victory in Rome

Mark van Bommel began his tenure as Belgium head coach with a 2-0 victory against Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Friday evening. The result in the UEFA Nations League opener delivered Belgium their first victory over the Azzurri since 1972, ending a run of five winless meetings across the last decade. Van Bommel reorganized the Belgian forward line by handing starts to 21-year-old winger Mika Godts and AC Milan's Diego Moreira on the flanks, alongside Charles De Ketelaere in central attack. The visitors controlled the opening half through disciplined pressing and sharp passing between Kevin De Bruyne and the front three. Roberto Mancini, back for a second spell as Italy manager after three years away, watched his side enter the half-time interval to whistles from the home supporters.

Godts and Lukebakio convert Belgian dominance

Belgium took the lead in the 20th minute when Godts received a through-ball from De Bruyne, bypassed defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo, and beat Gianluigi Donnarumma for his first senior international goal. Godts, who moved from Ajax to Paris Saint-Germain during the summer after being left out of the World Cup squad by former manager Rudi Garcia, nearly added a second with a header that Donnarumma pushed away. Nicolas Raskin also missed a clear opening created by Godts during a dominant first half for the visitors. Italy generated opportunities early in the second half through efforts from Moise Kean and Pio Esposito, but goalkeeper Senne Lammens preserved the clean sheet. Substitute Dodi Lukebakio doubled the lead in the 69th minute, finishing a counter-attack into the bottom corner ten days after scoring a similar goal for Benfica in the Europa League.

I might have given my calling card to the Belgian public. I try to play my game. It is an honour to be here and to play these kinds of matches.

Squad management and Italian reaction

Van Bommel noted that his tactical preparations had begun on Monday, spending two days instilling intensity and will before introducing tactical systems. Three of Belgium's starters (De Bruyne at Napoli, De Ketelaere at Atalanta, and Moreira at AC Milan) currently play in Serie A, contributing to an energetic team performance. Late in the match, Van Bommel introduced Fernandez-Pardo and Romelu Lukaku, with Lukaku subjected to boos on every touch before becoming involved in an altercation after the final whistle. Van Bommel confirmed that his entire roster will be utilised across the busy autumn international window to manage fitness levels.

If it fails four or five times, he still has to try a sixth time. That is his quality. On the other hand, he also understands that sometimes you have to keep possession. He did very well.

Group outlook and upcoming fixtures

The victory places Belgium alongside France at the top of their Nations League group with three points. In the other group fixture, France defeated Turkey 1-0 under head coach Zinedine Zidane, but Kylian Mbappe sustained a swollen knee injury that will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the window. Belgium host France in Brussels on Monday before welcoming Turkey on 2 October and travelling to Paris on 5 October. Italy, who missed the last three World Cups, will travel to Turkey on Monday seeking to rebound from their opening-round defeat.