Mancini: ‘Italy lack world class players, so have to build a team that works’ | OneFootball

Roberto Mancini warns Italy ‘don’t have world class players, so we have to build a team that can play well together’ as they take on France in the Nations League.

It kicks off at the Stade de France in Paris at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from the Nations League on the Liveblog.

There couldn’t have been a bigger difference between the performances in the opening two matches under returning coach Roberto Mancini.

They were jeered off the pitch in a 2-0 home defeat to Belgium, then lit up for a 4-1 victory in Turkiye, putting them back in contention for Group A.

Mancini focus on Italy unity

BURSA, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 28: Roberto Mancini, Head Coach of Italy, looks on before the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Türkiye and Italy at Atatürk Spor Kompleksi Matli Stadyumu on September 28, 2026 in Bursa, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

“When you don’t have world class players, you have to build a team that can play well together, and this is what we want to do,” Mancini told RAI Sport.

“What we did in EURO 2020 and in those four years together should give us hope, because we were more or less in the same situation as we are now when I arrived, even if we had more experience in the squad.

“We’ve got to build and that also means going through a few painful setbacks.”

BURSA, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 28: Italy pose for a team photograph before the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Türkiye and Italy at Atatürk Spor Kompleksi Matli Stadyumu on September 28, 2026 in Bursa, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

Some changes are forced, as Giacomo Raspadori started in Bursa, but left the camp due to a muscular injury.

Honest Ahanor has returned to the Under-21 team, while Samuele Inacio, Alessandro Romano, Nicolò Cambiaghi, Diego Coppola, Daniele Ghilardi, Eddy Kouadio, Rolando Mandragora and Massimo Pessina stayed back at Coverciano.

Surprisingly, the midfield is untouched, with Davide Frattesi and Nicolò Fagioli preferred to Nicolò Barella.

BURSA, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 28: Davide Frattesi of Italy celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammates during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Türkiye and Italy at Atatürk Spor Kompleksi Matli Stadyumu on September 28, 2026 in Bursa, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

“We’ve got to have consistency to an attacking style, but also know how to defend well,” noted Mancini.

Another change is Moise Kean stepping in with the Esposito brothers for a trident attack.

“Kean is doing well, he’s fresh and can give us something important this evening.”

Roberto Mancini speaks at a press conference before Italy’s Nations League match against Belgium (figc.it)

France are missing injured Kylian Mbappé, but have Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembélé back in the starting XI.

“Olise is fantastic, but France have seven or eight fantastic players.”