Riccardo Calafiori Criticizes Italy Performance After Belgium Defeat

Italy opened their 2026-27 UEFA Nations League campaign with a frustrating 2-0 home defeat against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico on September 25, 2026. The loss leaves the Azzurri at the bottom of their group and sparked angry jeers from home supporters, marking a difficult return for manager Roberto Mancini.

Friday night in Rome brought familiar tension back to the Stadio Olimpico. In Roberto Mancini’s first match back in charge of the national team, the Azzurri fell behind early when Mika Godts capitalized on a central midfield turnover by debutant Alessandro Romano and put Belgium ahead in the 20th minute. Dodi Lukebakio added a second later on, sealing a 2-0 victory for the visitors and dropping Italy to the foot of a group that also includes France and Turkiye, as the outlet reported in its post-match coverage.

The defeat compounds a dismal calendar year for the four-time world champions, who are still grappling with the psychological fallout of missing the 2026 World Cup following a playoff loss in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Patience among the home supporters has worn thin. As the referee blew the half-time whistle, the squad walked off the pitch to audible boos and jeers from the stands.

Calafiori’s Honest Assessment and Defensive Gaps

For Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori, the evening brought a notable personal milestone overshadowed by collective frustration. Deployed at left-back for the first time in his senior international career—returning to the role he traditionally plays at club level—the defender did not mince words when assessing the team’s display.

Speaking after the final whistle, Calafiori agreed that the team’s performance fell well short of expectations.

As I mentioned, it was clearly not enough. As I said before, I think we had some moments in the game that we looked like a good team, a strong team, but again, it’s not enough. If you look at the result, it’s not convincing at all.

Photo: yardbarker.com

Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal defender, via DAZN

The defender acknowledged that the team suffered from defensive gaps that allowed Belgium’s attack to waltzing through the backline on both scoring occasions. Yet he insisted that internal progress is underway under the new coaching staff.

I saw a good team in fits and starts. We’ve just started working with a new coach, but other areas I didn’t like, we left gaps and conceded two avoidable goals. We must try to look on the positive aspects. There is a lot of work to do, we’ve just started with a new coach, so we’ll see.

Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal defender, via RAI Sport

Addressing the hostile reception from the stands, Calafiori admitted that the crowd’s reaction stung. They hurt, because at times I felt the passion of the crowd, he noted, adding that the squad recognizes the urgent need to improve starting from their next outing.

Mancini Navigates Tactical Reconstruction and Fan Frustration

Mancini cut a composed figure after the match, brushing off the Olimpico whistles with pragmatic realism. The manager told Sky Sport Italia that hostile reactions are expected when the team loses, noting that the squad simply needs to keep working and avoid discouragement.

Photo: ca.sports.yahoo.com

Analyzing the ninety minutes, Mancini pointed to a stark contrast between halves. He admitted that his players struggled significantly against top-tier opposition during a sluggish opening period, but praised an energetic 25-minute spell after the break where high pressing generated genuine opportunities before a lack of luck and Belgium’s second goal closed out the contest.

Behind the tactical adjustments lies a deeper transition. Mancini highlighted the difficulties of integrating young talents like Pio Esposito into a new tactical setup, noting that players operating in different club structures need more than a single hour of competitive football to master national team requirements.

The Road Ahead Toward Turkey

The defeat leaves Italy facing immediate pressure as preparations begin for their next fixture. The Azzurri must travel to face Turkey with the team's Nations League campaign already hitting early turbulence and the squad desperate to address the defensive vulnerabilities exposed by Belgium.

Mancini emphasized that his players must let go of the psychological weight attached to representing a four-time world champion nation with such a prestigious past. With the team building toward future stability, the immediate task remains clear: stop conceding avoidable goals, integrate new tactical shapes, and win back a frustrated fanbase.