Milan – Nov 12: Roberto Mancini, Italy’s head coach, gestures at the San Siro during the Nations League match versus France. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)
The atmosphere in Italy is electric after Thursday’s 3‑1 Nations League win over France, and Mancini has drawn media applause for three key personnel choices.
Mancini lauded for three key personnel choices in Italy’s 3‑1 win over France
Now leading their group with ten points from four unbeaten games, Italy surged past France, pushing Les Bleus down the table. Goals came from Michael Olise, Pio Esposito (twice) and Davide Frattesi.
Much attention focused on Mancini’s matchday roster on Thursday. Though he initially named a 31‑man squad packed with youngsters, fans were upset when in‑form Alphadjo Cissé was omitted.
Mattia Liberali, Matteo Palma, Honest Ahanor, Federico Gatti and Niccolò Pisilli also missed the squad.
The coach has now quieted critics by beating the world’s third‑ranked side, a nation Italy hadn’t defeated at home since 1962.
La Gazzetta dello Sport highlighted three decisive calls, starting with winger Nicolo Cambiaghi on the right.
The Bologna forward, who watched Italy lift the 2006 World Cup in Berlin, is now carving his own place in the Azzurri set‑up twenty years later.
Cambiaghi operated on the left wing, cutting in from the touchline, while Sebastiano Esposito occupied the opposite flank, often drifting into the half‑spaces beside his brother Pio up front.
The newspaper praised Cambiaghi’s dribbling, noting how he troubled France’s right‑back Malo Gusto, who fouled him for Italy’s opening penalty. French journalists even asked, ‘where did this guy come from?’
Mancini also earned kudos for two second‑half switches, notably Antonio Vergara on the right. Like Cambiaghi, Vergara’s runs created chaos and resulted in Italy’s second spot‑kick.
La Gazzetta also applauded the introduction of Federico Dimarco, observing he’s a different player than last season, especially in goal and assist output. For my money, Dimarco’s evolution proves the coach’s gamble paid off.
With Italy shifting to a back four, Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori anchors the defence, and Dimarco, no longer a natural left winger, finds it hard to displace the Inter wing‑back since Mancini’s return.
Dimarco entered on the left after the hour mark and delivered a perfect cut‑back for Frattesi, who smashed home at the near post to give Italy a 2‑1 lead minutes later.
Most reports, including La Gazzetta, agree that Pio Esposito earned man of the match honors. Will Italy keep this momentum into the next round?