goals from Cambiaso and Retegui, watch the live streaming

Italy leads Belgium 2-1 after the first half thanks to goals from Cambiaso in the first minute and Retegui in the 24th. In the 42nd minute De Cuyper closes the gap. Azzurri with ten men due to Pellegrini’s expulsion.

The Azzurri immediately take the lead: Retegui starts Italy’s action, Pellegrini serves Dimarco who goes forward on the left, reaches the edge of the area and puts it in the centre, De Cuyper risks an own goal on a slide, goalkeeper Casteels saves but Cambiaso scores again: the Olimpico explodes. In the fifth Bastoni serves Frattesi on the right, the number 16 goes past Casteels, Theate heads free.

In the 19th offensive action by Belgium, Openda serves Doku, his conclusion from inside the area is deflected for a corner by Ricci. In the 24th minute Dimarco frees Cambiaso who enters the area from the right and fires a left-footed shot, Casteels stretches out and clears it, Retegui puts it in from the left: it’s Italy’s second.

In the 41st minute Pellegrini was sent off for a sliding foul on Theate. A minute later on the development of the free kick De Cuyper closes the gap for Belgium with a left-footed shot from outside the area.

Italy – Belgium 10/10/24 goal by Retegui (AFP)

Luciano Spalletti’s Italy restarts from the double success achieved in the Nations League last September against France and Israel and, after retiring in Coverciano, challenges Belgium. The match is taking place at the Olympic stadium in Rome, with live free-to-air TV on Rai 1 and streaming on Rainews.it and Raiplay. Naturally, Mr. Spalletti’s objective is to confirm himself at the top of the table and secure qualification for the quarter-finals.

The Azzurri participate in Group 2 of League A of the Nations Leagueor the tournament with the most competitive selections. Belgium is coached by Italian coach Domenico Tedesco, who so far has achieved a success against Israel and suffered a defeat against France.

The League A Group 2 standings after two rounds currently see the Azzurri in the lead with 6 pointsahead of France and Belgium on 3, while bringing up the rear, still stuck at 0 points, is Israel which hosts the Transalpines in this third round.

Italy – Belgium 10/10/24 Cambiaso goal (Ap)

The official lineups

ITALIA (3-5-1-1) – Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori; Cambiaso, Frattesi, Ricci, Tonali, Dimarco; Pilgrims; Retegui. Coach: Spalletti.

BELGIUM (4-2-3-1) – Casteels; Debast, Faes, Theate, De Cuyper; Tielemans, Mangala; De Ketelaere, Trossard, Doku; Openda. Ct.: Tedesco.

REFEREE: Espen Eskas (Norway).

Luciano Spalletti at the press conference – 9 October 2024 (ansa)

Spalletti: “For Italy the World Cup is an obligation, we are on the right track”

“We feel the World Cup is an obligation, And the one that determined our history and made many people happy. Participate for us And really important, it shouldn’t become an obsession or a pressure, with this group we have to make some experiences, but we are on the right path.” The coach of the national football team, Luciano Spalletti, said this in a press conference before the Nations League match against host Belgium at the Olimpico.

“This group gives us hope for what our future will be. Above all as a way of being together, being friends and in normal life. I’ve had some time to think, there are weeks that pass in an instant and hours that don’t never pass, now I have the feeling of having kids who want to let people know what they’re made of”, added the Italian coach.

“It will be a fundamental match for our future, I expect it to be tackled in the same way and with the same courage as the last matches“he then concluded.

German ready for the derby: “Italy is strong, let’s play”

“I can’t hide my love for Italy, And the first time I face it. They are a strong team, who play by heart, but not all teams have only strengths. They are doing very well, they beat France and Israel and are in a positive moment. But we will try to put our strengths into play. Now And the time has come to play it, it will be a great match for all of us.”

Lo declared Domenico Tedesco, Belgian coach but born in Rossano, in the province of Cosenza. Against Italy, Tedesco aims to interrupt a series of three consecutive defeats for the Red Devils against the Azzurri, the last of which was in the Nations League in 2021.

Domenico Tedesco (gettyimages)

Spalletti: “We need to follow up on what we did in September”

“The key word now is to provide continuity and it seems to me that our champions have understood that making good use of these blue days can also be good for their future in their respective teams – explained Spalletti – After doing well against France and Israel, they also did well at club level. Our championship then dhas continuously looking for solutions or alternatives to the national team. It gave us the opportunity to go and discover other things, we are dealing with injuries that in my opinion depend a lot on the players’ minds, on the pressure they have, not on muscular fatigue, because when a team does well it makes up for many things while when things go badly you have more injuries”.

“I’m pleased to have seen again this morning the beautiful players enthusiastic about all meeting together, to see again that spirit that was seen in the last two matches, as a way of being together and sharing the joy of wearing this shirt, so we go to play with confidence”added the coach.

“It will be a good test for Italy because they are a strong team, among the strongest at building play with the defensive line – highlighted Spalletti – they have very good defenders who can also act as midfielders, they have game changes, pockets, they are strong in terms of quality and knowledge of the game”.

“We need to follow up on what we did in September: that’s why we need to wineven if it won’t be easy against Belgium.” Luciano Spalletti, on the eve of the third Nations League match. “I saw the players so well that I can say we have a very interesting group. They all give off an energy to demonstrate that they are at the top. Which of the four new ones is ready for their debut? They are all ready if I called them here”

Nice words also for his colleague, the coach of Italian origin Domenico Tedesco: “He’s a great coach, I had the chance to get to know him and talk to him, he shows that he is a coach who has his own ideas, who doesn’t let himself be influenced by a few complaints. We have a problem to solve.”

Italy – Belgium 10/10/24 (Getty)

There are a total of 11 precedents between Italy and Belgium considering all competitions including friendlies. The Azzurri have always won in the last 3 matches played between the European Championships and the Nations League. In total, the Italian national team won against the Devils 6 times against 3 wins for Belgium and 2 draws. Belgium’s last victory against the Italian national team dates back to a friendly match in 2015 which ended with a score of 3-1. The draw, however, has not occurred since the 1980 European Championships, when the match ended with a score of 0-0.

Italy – Belgium 10/10/24 (LaPresse)

The list of 23 Italians in Coverciano

Goalkeepers: Michele Di Gregorio (Juventus), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham);

Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Raoul Bellanova (Atalanta), Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Matteo Gabbia (Milan), CalebOkoli (Leicester), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham);

Midfielders: Nicolò Fagioli (Juventus), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Niccolò Pisilli (Rome), Samuele Ricci (Turin), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle);

Attackers: Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Daniel Maldini (Monza), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Atalanta).

Italy – Belgium 10/10/24 (LaPresse)

Spalletti with the national team in Coverciano (Getty)

Italy – Belgium 10/10/24 (Getty)