Roberto Mancini admits the first half was ‘below expectations,’ but insists Italy ‘did really well’ after the break in their 2-0 defeat to Belgium. ‘When you lose, you can get jeered.’

The returning hero of EURO 2020 was hoping for a stronger start to his second Azzurri era, but the Nations League is already an uphill struggle after this 2-0 home defeat to Belgium.

Although there were some improvements in the second half, Dodi Lukebakio struck on the counter-attack after the Mika Godts opener.

“Belgium played better in the first half, we took the initiative in the second and could’ve equalised, but we conceded on a counter-attack with our error. This is football,” Mancini told RAI Sport.

“The first half was below expectations, as Belgium played better, but not the second half. The team did really well until that second goal, we had four or five chances to equalise, we pinned them back, but Belgium are a strong side.”

While the Nazionale was smarting from the failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup when Mancini took over the first time, he is now inheriting a side traumatised by missing three consecutive editions of that tournament.

That includes the fans, who jeered loudly both at half-time and again at the final whistle.

“When we lose, nobody is happy. When you lose, you can get jeered,” confessed Mancini.