UEFA Nations League: Where to watch Italy vs Belgium live on October 10, 2021

Topics: TV Schedules, TV Listings, UEFA Nations League, Belgium, Italy

The two European heavyweights will look to dust themselves from respective losses when they lock horns in the second-runners up playoff game on Sunday.

Preview

Italy welcomes Belgium to the Allianz Stadium in Turin as the pair battle for a bronze medal in the third-place play-off of the UEFA Nations League. The Azzurri's 37-game unbeaten run was ruined by a commanding performance by Spain in a mid-week clash which the latter won 2-1. The European champions will now face the Red Devils in an elimination stage for the first time in 49 years.

The upcoming clash should give them the chance to bounce back from two uncharacteristic showing in the World Cup qualifying campaign which ended in draws against Bulgaria and Switzerland despite winning the match with Lithuania afterwards. Prior to going on the incredible record-unbeaten streak, Italy's last home defeat came against Portugal in the inaugural Nations League over three years ago. It was the first time they had failed to pick up at least a point on home soil since 1999 - a defeat which coincidentally came against Belgium.

Against this backdrop, the Red Devils should be motivated enough to get something out of Sunday's encounter. Just like their Italian counterparts, Roberto Martinez's side were defeated in a tense semi-final match against defending world champions France, therefore ending their Golden Generation's charge for a first international trophy. The turn of events was quite hard to fathom as it was the 2018 FIFA World Cup bronze medalist who assumed a commanding position with goals from Yannick Carrassco and Romelu Lukaku.

However, the turnaround for France was inspired by a brilliant Karim Benzema strike, a composed penalty by Kylian Mbappe and an 89th-minute stunner by Theo Hernandes. As a result, a swift response is require from the Belgians who entered this month with three out of three wins in September's World Cup qualifying games. They scored nine times and conceded just two during that period.

Form guide

Italy: LWDDDD
Belgium: LWWWLW

Predicted starting XI

Italy: Donnarumma; Calabria, Chiellini, Bastoni, Dimarco; Barella, Locatelli, Pellegrini; Chiesa, Raspadori, Berardi.
Belgium: Mignolet; Alderweireld, Boyata, Vertonghen; Saelemaekers, Vanaken, Witsel, Carrasco; Lukebakio, Batshuayi, Trossard.

What are the coaches saying ahead of Italy vs Belgium?

Roberto Mancini, Italy coach: "Trying something new means giving some other players a chance to prove their worth. We are on a beautiful journey and we must continue on it as long as possible. We have young guys who could be playing together for another five or six years. I wanted to bring Raspadori on at San Siro but we were down to ten men and I couldn't. He will have the opportunity to play... but we must also remember that he is a young guy. He has a great future but we cannot give him too much responsibility."
Roberto Martínez, Belgium coach: "This game against Italy marks the start of a new cycle for us. Will we make changes? Yes, because Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard are no longer here. Thomas Foket, who suffered a calf injury on Thursday in the warm-up, is also back at his club. We want to take this unique opportunity to face the champions of Europe and test our abilities again. We have shown against France that we are capable of."