Roberto Mancini has confirmed that Italy will aim for victory against France, while defender Alessandro Bastoni highlighted that enhancing the Azzurri’s confidence and morale has been a crucial goal for their returning head coach.
In the Nations League, Italy has had mixed results with one win and one loss—suffering a 2-0 defeat to Belgium at home in Mancini’s first game back since 2023, followed by a 4-1 victory over Turkiye.
Their upcoming challenge is formidable as they travel to the Stade de France to face Zinedine Zidane’s French team.
France currently tops Group A1 with a perfect score, while Italy has been inconsistent against them, winning only three of their last 15 encounters since 1982, with two draws and ten losses; however, they did triumph over France in the 2006 World Cup final via penalties.
Despite being ranked 15th in FIFA, trailing France who sits at third, Mancini refuses to adopt an underdog mindset.
“It’s going to be a fantastic match against a top-tier team that boasts incredible players, but our goal is to leave a strong impression and give it our all,” Mancini stated, as reported by Football Italia.
“When facing such strong opponents, we’ll always strive to win, so our focus must be on that goal and not on just surviving. After all, anything can happen in football.”
Landed #FRAITA #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/5BuRJNmvtd
— Italy (@Azzurri_En) October 1, 2026
Bastoni scored Italy’s first goal against Turkiye, a moment that helped him overcome the disappointment from his red card during the World Cup qualifying playoff against Bosnia-Herzegovina in March.
Considering Italy’s recent struggles—being the first previous World Cup champions to miss three consecutive tournaments—Bastoni emphasized that instilling self-belief must be a priority for Mancini and his coaching staff.
“We have the ability to compete against anyone in a single match, but consistency and ensuring Italy has a clear identity on the pitch is essential,” Bastoni noted.
“Our performance should match the level we displayed in our last game.”
“While everyone is eager for quick results, we must recognize that this is just the beginning of our journey. After the match against Turkiye, we need to be patient as challenges lie ahead.”
“The coach is focusing on our self-esteem. Italians often dwell on negativity and the past, but we also need to acknowledge our successes. The more we celebrate our achievements, the easier it will be to believe in ourselves, so that’s an area we have to improve.”
“I’ve noticed strong personalities within the squad who aren’t afraid to step out of their comfort zones, and that’s likely the spark we need.”
Fan Take: This news is significant for soccer fans as it highlights Italy’s determined resurgence under Mancini, emphasizing not just the aim for victories, but also the rebuilding of the team’s identity and morale. A confident and cohesive Italy could reinvigorate their storied legacy in international soccer, making future matches more exciting and competitive on the world stage.
Source: www.soccernews.com
