Mancini Hails Italy’s Rain-Soaked Turkey Win Ahead of France Test

Italy responded to their defeat by Belgium with an emphatic victory over Turkey in Bursa, producing a composed display despite heavy rain that made the surface difficult to manage. Roberto Mancini praised the squad’s professionalism after a performance he felt restored confidence ahead of a demanding meeting with France.

Italy find their response in Bursa

The conditions threatened to disrupt Italy’s passing game, but the visitors retained control and took their chances as they put the Belgium disappointment behind them. Mancini said he was pleased not only by the result but by the manner in which his players adapted to the poor pitch.

He felt the group had produced several high-quality passages of play in testing circumstances and deserved the boost that came with the win. The coach stressed that the result carried particular importance after the previous loss, helping the players recognise what they can achieve when they execute their game properly.

• Italy played Turkey in Bursa in heavy rain.
• The match followed Italy’s defeat against Belgium.
• Mancini highlighted the players’ handling of the difficult playing surface.
• France are Italy’s next opponents after the squad’s recovery period.

Front line instructions create openings

Italy’s attacking shape was a major part of the performance, with Mancini assigning distinct movements to his forwards in an effort to stretch Turkey’s back line while retaining a presence in central areas.

Sebastiano Esposito was told to begin on the left and hold his width. Giacomo Raspadori was asked to move inside in support of Pio Esposito, while Michael Kayode had licence to advance on the right. The arrangement created the overloads Italy had sought and contributed to a free-scoring display.

Mancini acknowledged that Turkey improved after the interval, describing the home side’s second-half response as an expected development. Italy nevertheless had already established the foundations of a convincing night.

Kayode makes his mark on debut

Michael Kayode’s first senior Italy appearance became one of the central stories of the match. The wide player scored on his debut and made an impression with both his forward running and his work without the ball.

Mancini considered the debutant’s display significant beyond the goal itself, noting that a first outing at international level can be difficult. Kayode settled quickly into the tactical plan and supplied the right-sided threat the coach had wanted.

France test awaits

Mancini has urged restraint despite the scale of Italy’s response in Turkey. In his view, the victory should be treated with the same perspective as the Belgium defeat: both are part of a longer process for a developing side.

The immediate priority is now physical recovery before France, a fixture Mancini described as difficult. Italy will take confidence from Bursa, but their coach believes the team still have considerable progress to make.