Fabio Capello says that Mohamed Ali Zoma and Daniel Maldini were among the positives to take away from Italy’s 2-0 defeat at home against Belgium on Friday evening, but has warned ‘how do you expect to score’ if the Azzurri continue to build up in the same way as they did at the Stadio Olimpico.

Roberto Mancini’s second stint in charge of the Italy national team ended in a 2-0 defeat against Belgium in Role after goals from Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio.

It was a particularly concerning first-half display from Italy, who have been accused of being too nervous following their recent failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Capello feels that there were positives to take from the start of the second half, and from a few of Mancini’s new faces, but still feels that there is a long way to go before Italy start playing at their best.

Writing in his La Gazzetta dello Sport column on Saturday, Capello noted: “Italy probably felt too much weight of responsibility in the first half and unfortunately they weren’t able to express themselves in the way they would have liked. Belgium, on the other hand, played with speed and determination, they did what they wanted.

“We approached it with too much concern, we hardly saw anything before half-time and it was Donnarumma who kept us in it with his saves.

“We had chances in the second half which we didn’t make the most of. The way I saw it, Mancini has to convey to his players the need to put crosses in. You can’t always play sideways without getting into the penalty area, where Kean was the only one after Pio Esposito came off. How do you expect to score if you play like that?”

Despite the scoreline and the disappointing first-half display, Mancini feels that there are still some positives for Italy supporters to take home, including the emergence of 1. FC Nürnberg winger Mohamed Ali Zoma.

“There are some positives. Even if he lost the ball a few times, I liked the attitude that Zoma showed on the left when he came on. He tried to make things happen, he tried to dribble past his opponents. And like him, Maldini was also good at taking people on.