Gianluca Scamacca opened the scoring in the 26th minute, Riccardo Calafiori headed in at the 65th minute, and Francesco Pio Esposito scored at the 87th minute to secure a 3-1 win over Turkey.
Roberto Mancini rotated nine players from the previous starting lineup against France, retaining only Gianluigi Donnarumma and Alessandro Bastoni.
With seven points from four matches, Italy took second place in Group 1 and guaranteed a seeded position in the European Championship qualifying draw.
Italy will reconvene at Coverciano in 34 days to face France in Milan on November 12 and Belgium in Brussels on November 15.
Italy secured a 3-1 victory over Turkey at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Bologna on Monday evening, concluding their opening four-match block in the UEFA Nations League. Gianluca Scamacca opened the scoring in the 26th minute after capitalizing on an errant rebound caused by Mahdi Doumbia following a Giovanni Di Lorenzo cross. Turkey found an equalizer in the 61st minute through Doguhan Simsir, but Italy responded four minutes later when substitute Riccardo Calafiori scored with a header in the 65th minute. Francesco Pio Esposito sealed the result in the 87th minute, recording his seventh goal in 13 senior international appearances.
Head coach Roberto Mancini made nine changes to the starting lineup compared to the previous match against France, retaining only goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and central defender Alessandro Bastoni. The lineup included full debuts for Doumbia and Antonio Vergara, alongside Daniel Maldini on the wing and Niccolo Romano directing play from midfield. Donnarumma produced key interventions to protect the lead in the second half, stopping an attempt by Salih Ozcan. The visiting Turkish squad arrived in Bologna without the suspended Arda Guler, Baris Alper Yilmaz, and the injured Hakan Calhanoglu, leaving coach Vincenzo Montella under mounting pressure after four consecutive group defeats.
Scamacca reflected on the team's objective following the final whistle:
“I am very happy, not so much for the goal, but more for the result, given that it was very important to win.”
In the post-match press conference, Mancini evaluated the performance and reflected on his rebuilding process for the national squad. He noted that the squad rotation predictably reduced passing fluidity in the opening stages, but commended his players for reclaiming control after the equalizer. When asked about what he missed most during his return to Coverciano, Mancini offered a brief, emotional acknowledgment of his late longtime teammate and coaching assistant Gianluca Vialli. Mancini also commended the physical and technical profile of Pio Esposito, comparing his potential to former Italian internationals Christian Vieri and Luca Toni.
Mancini described his perspective on the squad's progress:
“I am happy to see a group forming, a very good group, with talents that are growing and will grow, and that we will play for qualification in Brussels.”
The three points brought Italy to seven points from four matches in their Nations League group, following an opening 2-0 defeat to Belgium, a 4-1 victory in Bursa, and a 1-1 draw in France. Combined with France's 4-1 win over Belgium at Saint-Denis on Monday, Italy moved into second place in the group standings and guaranteed at least third place, which secures a seeded position in the upcoming European Championship qualifying draw. The national team will regroup at Coverciano in 34 days ahead of matches against France in Milan on November 12 and Belgium in Brussels on November 15. Off the pitch, Italian football awaits the appointment of an FIGC commissioner on Tuesday, while Turkish federation president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu attended the match despite suffering a mild illness beforehand following domestic referee controversies.
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Roberto Mancini's side took second place in their Nations League group with seven points after defeating Turkey 3-1 at Bologna's Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.
AI text based on reports by il Giornale.it, Fanpage and ANSA.it. Changed .