Mancini after loss to Belgium: We could have drawn

Roberto Mancini, the coach of the Italy national team, expressed his regret after the loss to Belgium by a score of 2-0 in the start of the Azzurri's campaign in the UEFA Nations League, but he saw that his team provided a good reaction during the second half.

Roberto Mancini reflected on the match, saying: "In the first half, Belgium were better than us and we struggled, but in the second half we played better, and we could have equalised, except they scored the second goal on a counter-attack."

Italy's coach added: "The performance was not below expectations, perhaps in the first half yes, but not in the second, where the team performed very well. We had four or five chances to equalise."

Speaking about the jeers that were directed at the team by the fans at the Olimpico after the final whistle, Mancini said: "When you lose, no one is happy; the jeers are understandable."

Italy conceded a goal in each half, starting Roberto Mancini's second spell on the bench with a defeat against Belgium in the opening match of the UEFA Nations League.