When you’re knocked down, you need to get back up immediately. Following their defeat to Spain, which brought an end to their record-breaking 37-game unbeaten run, Roberto Mancini’s Azzurri responded with a win against Belgium, thus securing a third-place finish in the Nations League. Goals from Barella and Berardi sealed an important victory with the FIFA World Ranking and thus the World Cup draw in mind, a competition Italy can and should qualify for in just over a month. Even without Bonucci, Chiellini, Verratti, Insigne and Jorginho in the starting line-up, Italy implemented their usual proactive game. And, once again, the Azzurri displayed plenty of desire to win.

THE MATCH. Mancini made five changes to the side that started against Spain, partly out of necessity and partly to see whether the team’s playing identity could be maintained even with new faces in the line-up. Bonucci was suspended and Chiellini was selected on the bench, meaning Acerbi partnered Bastoni in central defence. Meanwhile, Di Lorenzo and Emerson once again took up the full-back roles. Locatelli was asked to dictate things in central midfield, while Barella and Pellegrini lined up either side of him and were requested to support a front trio consisting of Raspadori, Chiesa and Berardi. Belgium were also without some of their biggest names. After losing Hazard and Lukaku through injury, Martinez opted to name Kevin De Bruynee as a substitute and give Saelemaekers a chance. The AC Milan player was part of an attacking trident that was also made up of Vanaken and Batshuayi.

Italy started strongly as Chiesa threated twice in the opening couple of minutes. First, he took a shot that was deflected behind by Alderweireld; then, he fired over with his right foot. And while ‘I campioni dell’Europa siamo noi’ (‘We’re the champions of Europe’) could be heard in the stands, the Azzurri were playing the kind of football that led to the wonderful triumph at Wembley, displaying quick combinations and stifling Belgium’s build-up play with high pressing. The duo of Di Lorenzo and Berardi was looking promising down the right wing, and, in the 18th minute, the Sassuolo winger let fly from distance, forcing Courtois into a save. Two minutes later, Chiesa slid a pass through for Raspadori, whose attempt was blocked by Castagne.

Belgium had started sluggishly, but their quality means they can strike at any moment. In the 25th minute, Batshuayi picked out Saelemaekers, whose right-footed effort came off the bar. Italy needed to remain focused. Mancini’s men continued to play well, however, with just the final pass missing on a few occasions. This was the case with 36 minutes on the clock, when Berardi was unable to find Raspadori following a swift counter-attack orchestrated by Barella. On the stroke of half-time, Chiesa had a huge opportunity after getting on the end of Berardi’s brilliant ball over the top, but Courtois somehow managed to save with his boot. The teams thus headed into the break on level terms.

A great goal from Barella – the 100th of the Mancini era – broke the deadlock at the start of the second half. Inevitably, the mind flashed back to 2 July, when the Inter midfielder bagged the opener against the Red Devils at the quarter-final stage of the Euros. Space opened up and it looked as though the Azzurri had more in the tank than their opponents. Belgium’s response was to bring on Kevin De Bruyne and, a minute after the Manchester City star had entered the fray, Batshuayi smacked the woodwork from a tight angle. Having survived a big scare, Italy doubled their lead in the 63rd minute: Castagne brought down Chiesa in the box, the referee pointed to the spot and Berardi stepped up to score his sixth goal for the National Team. The Belgians looked to get back in the game, with Donnarumma denying Alderweireld on two occasions, while Mancini sent on Kean, Jorginho and Cristante to add fresh impetus in attack and shore things up in midfield. Then, in the 82nd minute, Carrasco hit the post. Lady Luck was on Italy’s side. Four minutes from the end, however, Martinez’s men did reduce the arrears as De Ketelaere controlled De Bruyne’s pass and fired the ball through Donnarumma’s legs and into the net. It was an avoidable goal to conceded but, in the end, didn’t matter.

The Azzurri were applauded off the pitch by the fans at the Juventus Stadium, who were delighted to see the team immediately return to winning ways. Italy will next be in action in Rome and Belfast, where, on 12 and 15 November respectively, they’ll take on Switzerland and Northern Ireland with the objective of securing their spot at the World Cup in Qatar and ending an unforgettable year in the best possible fashion.