Italy will kick off their UEFA Nations League A campaign against another European giant, Belgium, on Friday at the Stadio Olimpico as both teams will start their journey after the World Cup under their respective new managers.Italy vs Belgium – Match preview and team newsDate: Friday, 25th September.Kick-off: 7:45pm BST.Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Roma.Italy team newsItaly enters this UEFA Nations League fixture with significant defensive reshuffling due to the suspension of Alessandro Bastoni, who is serving a red card ban.Head coach Roberto Mancini also has to navigate late injury withdrawals from Federico Dimarco and Bryan Cristante, who pulled out of the squad with knee and back problems respectively.With Giorgio Scalvini still fighting for match fitness, Diego Coppola is highly anticipated to step up into the starting lineup alongside Riccardo Calafiori.In the attacking third, Mancini is heavily experimenting with Inter’s emerging talent Francesco Pio Esposito to lead the line alongside Moise Kean.However, the veteran presence of Giacomo Raspadori and the creative spark of Daniel Maldini remain strong alternatives if the Azzurri need to adjust their tactical setup dynamically mid-match.Belgium team newsBelgium faces a heavily depleted roster for Mark van Bommel’s international debut, forcing major adjustments across the pitch.Legendary goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois remains out of selection plans, while rising young shot-stopper Mike Penders and veteran winger Leandro Trossard failed to travel to Rome due to quadriceps and heel injuries.The Red Devils’ attacking threat is further diminished by the absence of Jérémy Doku and midfielder Amadou Onana, who are both sidelined with muscle issues.While star striker Romelu Lukaku is officially included in the travelling squad, his minutes will be strictly managed following a recent return to fitness.This limitation will likely push Charles De Ketelaere into a false-nine role, heavily relying on the creative brilliance of captain Kevin De Bruyne and the pace of Dodi Lukebakio to anchor the frontline strategy.FormItalyItaly enters the match recovering from the heartbreaking disappointment of missing the 2026 World Cup, following a dramatic penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina in the playoff finals. Looking to rebuild under Roberto Mancini, the Azzurri bounced back during the summer with consecutive 1-0 friendly victories over Luxembourg and Greece. They have kept four clean sheets in their last six matches, displaying steady defensive solidity despite their recent qualifying failures.BelgiumBelgium boasts highly impressive form, having lost just one of their last 19 international fixtures. The Red Devils enjoyed a strong 2026 World Cup campaign, thrashing the USA 4-1 in the round of 16 before falling 2-1 to eventual champions Spain in a tightly contested quarter-final.Predicted lineupsItaly: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Coppola, Calafiori, Kayode; Fagioli, Tonali, Barella; Kean, Pio Esposito, Zaniolo.Belgium: Lammens; Castagne, De Winter, Theate, De Cuyper; Tielemans, Lavia, De Bruyne; Lukebakio, De Ketelaere, Godts.How to watch Italy vs Belgium? You can watch the Italy vs Belgium match live in the UK tonight on Prime Video UK.Read Also – HomeSee More – LatestFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeThe post Italy vs Belgium – Match preview and team news appeared first on The Football Faithful.