Italy picked up a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico in their opening UEFA Nations League game. The loss was met with boos as the performance was largely disappointing.
Belgium largely dominated the first half and while Italy attempted to come into the game in the second half, it was clear who the better team was.
Chaos did break out at the end of the tie but this was drowned out by the boos. Giovanni Di Lorenzo started the game, which did spark disappointment amongst many fans. After the loss, the right-back defended the national team from criticism.
He told Rai โ via Calciomercato: โBoos? Itโs definitely not nice, but we have to accept them. The team tried their best, but itโs disappointing because we wanted to start the group well and we need to improve.โ
Analysing the game, he said: โThey have excellent individual players, and tonight they showed it by capitalizing on every mistake we made. Itโs a shame, because when we conceded the second goal, we had taken control and had chances to equalize.โ
โWeโre also taking home some of the positive things we did. Letโs start from the beginning of the second half. In the first, we let ourselves be carried away by enthusiasm and the desire to press, but this is the right path and what the coach wants.โ
He further defended the team from criticism, noting that targeting players shouldnโt happen, especially as the Azzurri are on a new journey together.
โA new cycle has begun, with new, young players, and itโs normal to make mistakes in the first match. If we go back to destroying the team right away, it wonโt be good for the national team. We have other matches to do better. I think itโs also a matter of self-esteem , which can grow with results against important teams. We want it, and weโll give it our all.โ
The Azzurri take on Turkey in the next game which could be a way to show that theyโre a better team than what they showed today. After that, they will take on France in what will be a more challenging game.
Kaustubh Pandey โ GIFN
