The press in Italy have not looked favourably upon Roberto Mancini nor the Italy national team after the new era of the Nazionale started in defeat at home against Belgium in the Nations League on Friday night.

The Italy national team were treated to a round of boos from a half-empty Stadio Olimpico following goals from Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio in an eventual 2-0 loss against Mark van Bommel’s side .

The result leaves the Azzurri at the bottom of their Nations League group after the first round of fixtures, ahead of matches against Turkiye, France and Turkiye again over the next fortnight.

Post-match reports on Saturday morning have not been too kind to Mancini or the Nazionale.

Many feel that the Azzurri are ‘stuck in Zenica’ referring to the World Cup play-off final defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina under Gennaro Gattuso at the end of March earlier this year.

La Gazzetta dello Sport writes that Mancini’s Italy side is “dirtier and uglier” than it was before. They admit that Belgium were excellent on the night, but that they were made to look even better due to Italy’s shortcomings.

The Pink Paper accused the Azzurri of lacking in identity, being tactically unprepared and making too many mistakes leading directly to goals, noting: “Italy were confused, afraid, lacking in ideas and were scrambled by a Belgium side without ever really reacting.”

The Corriere dello Sport agrees that Italy “were returning from Zenica, but stayed there for the entire first half,” that they were “worried, afraid and paralysed in the face of another defeat.”