Italy vs Belgium: Three key players to look out for

The Hard Tackle lists three players who can make a defining impact when Italy and Belgium meet at Stadio Olimpico on Friday.

The grand amphitheatre of Stadio Olimpico in Rome becomes the battleground for a highly anticipated 2026/27 UEFA Nations League opener as Italy host Belgium in Group A1. For the home side, the fixture marks a monumental, emotional pivot back to a familiar architect. Roberto Mancini has returned for his second stint as head coach, stepping into the technical area to pick up the pieces of an aggregate heartbreak that saw Italy miss out on the 2026 World Cup.

The task ahead is a profound cultural reset, blending a crop of emerging young talents with established veterans to re-establish tactical dominance in Europe. Across the technical area, Belgium also arrive under a new strategic direction following a respectable run to the World Cup quarter-finals this past summer.

Former Netherlands skipper Mark van Bommel takes charge for his international management debut, inheriting a squad experiencing its own post-tournament evolution. He brings an expected emphasis on structural steel and dynamic midfield pressing, providing an instant litmus test for Mancini’s revamped tactical vision. With Group A1 also housing heavyweights France and Turkiye, starting the tournament with maximum points tonight is paramount for both nations.

Tactically, this heavyweight clash will be won and lost in the transitional phases, making specific player match-ups absolutely vital. Italy’s fluid 4-3-3 template heavily hinges on defensive stability and central progressive control, whereas Belgium’s setup relies on midfield pivots unlocking dangerous final-third runners.

Depleted rosters on both sides, including the high-profile absences of the suspended Alessandro Bastoni for Italy and the injured Leandro Trossard for Belgium, further magnify the tactical burden on individual stars. Amid this captivating backdrop, three key players stand out as the crucial figures capable of deciding this international showdown.

Pio Esposito

The emerging 21-year-old has been selected by Roberto Mancini to spearhead Italy’s new-look attack tonight, highlighting his rapid rise to prominence. With the Azzurri eager to solve their long-standing goalscoring dilemmas, Esposito represents the prototypical modern focal point, combining physically imposing aerial presence with exceptional link-up mechanics.

His ability to anchor the frontline, occupy central defenders, and create spaces for overlapping runners makes him the definitive tactical focal point of Italy’s offensive transitional blueprint. All that explains why he has attracted interest from Arsenal and Manchester United, among others.

• Elite International Efficiency: Esposito has seamlessly adapted to senior international football, racking up an impressive return of 5 goals in just 9 senior appearances for Italy heading into the game against Belgium.
• Domestic Underlying Threat: In the opening phase of the domestic club season, he ranks in the 91st percentile among European forwards for non-penalty expected goals (npxG) per 90 minutes, averaging a high-volume 3.8 shots inside the penalty area.
• Tactical Match-up Advantage: Standing at 1.89 metres, his aerial duel success rate of 64% this season presents a major threat against a reshuffled Belgian central defence that will feature Zeno Debast, exposing potential gaps during standard crossing situations and set-pieces.

Kevin De Bruyne

While Belgium will undergo a tactical evolution under Mark van Bommel, Kevin De Bruyne remains the undisputed heartbeat and creative catalyst of the team. Operating as the central attacking midfielder in a dynamic 4-2-3-1 system, the veteran playmaker’s vision and spatial awareness will be heavily relied upon to carve open Italy’s backline.

De Bruyne’s unique ability to dictate the tempo of transitional phases and deliver pinpoint final-third passes makes him the ultimate weapon to bypass the Azzurri’s pressing traps.

• Unrivalled Creative Output: In his early domestic club campaign, De Bruyne continues to lead Europe’s top five leagues in shot-creating actions, averaging a staggering 7.42 per 90 minutes alongside an expected assists (xA) metric of 1.08 so far.
• Progressive Passing Mastery: He maintains a spectacular 88% pass completion rate on long-range progressive passes this season, reinforcing his capability to execute defense-splitting balls into the channels for speedy wingers.
• Exploiting Italy’s Midfield Pockets: De Bruyne will directly target the pockets of space behind Italy’s advanced central midfielders, looking to pull the defensive midfielder out of position and trigger quick isolated opportunities against a young Azzurri centre-back partnership.

Sandro Tonali

With Bryan Cristante sidelined due to a back injury, the tactical responsibility of controlling the centre of the pitch falls squarely on Sandro Tonali. The dynamic midfielder offers an elite blend of defensive work rate, relentless pressing, and vertical ball progression. His role tonight will be multi-faceted: acting as the structural shield to disrupt Belgian transitions while simultaneously executing rapid forward passes to initiate Italy’s own offensive phases.

• Defensive Resilience & Interceptions: Tonali has made a decent start to his club season, averaging 2.2 tackles won and 0.8 interceptions per 90 minutes, demonstrating his reading of opposition passing lanes.
• Proven Nations League Pedigree: Tonali boasts a formidable track record against tonight’s opponents, notably scoring the decisive match-winning goal in Italy’s hard-fought 1-0 away victory against Belgium in their prior Nations League campaign.
• The Pivotal Midfield Duel: His individual battle against Belgium’s double pivot will dictate the game’s tempo; Tonali’s 62% success rate in ground duels this season will be crucial to suffocating Belgium’s midfield service.