Mancini’s fragile Italia, in his second spell in charge, are looking to bounce back against Turkey

He doesn’t put any money in, but he’s always sticking his nose in. He wants to have a say, make his voice heard, mark his territory. To be seen in the stands, talking without knowing what he’s on about. But do these people realise what a quagmire we’re in? At the Olimpico on Friday, the stadium was half-empty. Without the children and their glum faces, we’d have needed cardboard cut-outs to fill the stands. Then the boos started, but what can you do? Frankly, the spectacle was sad, disappointing. With that aimless passing back and forth whilst the Belgians, with just two quick, direct moves, skewered us mercilessly. Poor Donnarumma, forced to fly all over the place and then in a state of panic in the closing stages against Lukaku. And De Bruyne? Against Napoli he has that sluggish gait of undigested mixed fry, but against Belgium he becomes unstoppable.

And yet, if we are to avoid a total collapse, everyone will have to pull themselves together. Managers, players, but also fans and pundits. There are too many harsh critics, too many merciless detractors. Let’s calm down a bit. Haste and quality never go hand in hand. So let’s give Mancini – who, after all, has won a European Championship – time to do his job.

Second-generation Italians, like those in France and Germany? Well, let’s not jump to conclusions straight away, as we did with Alessandro Romano. Three days’ work isn’t much. Even the Creator took seven days to finish his work. And we must also put an end to this whole ‘betrayal’ business once and for all. It’s true that Mancini chose the Arab money, but what about the other managers? Have they always been loyal throughout the ages? What about Inzaghi? And Conte? Even Mancini, quiff or no quiff, is entitled to be given a break.

The national team is a poor reflection of the game. A mirror of our football. Of a game where only Frosinone has an Italian backbone. Where Como, the rising star, fields nothing but foreign players. Apart from Donnarumma, we have no superstars. And the most promising players, such as Tonali and Barella, were among the most disappointing on Friday. Why is that? Tonight there will be five changes with the return of Bastoni and Frattesi, whilst Barella, Maldini, Mancini and seven others will remain at Coverciano ahead of the upcoming match against France on 2 October.

One question, however, begs to be asked: why are our players, especially in the first half, so awkward, as if they were afraid to touch the ball? Is it the pressure? But they are professionals who play in Serie A and in Europe. Perhaps, as the old Bearzot used to do, we shouldn’t try to change their natural style or impose new and abstruse tactics on them (any reference to Spalletti is no coincidence) which they struggle to take on board in just a few days.

“Criticism doesn’t bother me; I expect Italia to be aggressive against Turkey,” says Mancini with his usual confidence. Let’s hope so, because it will take more than two weeks to get out of this mess. It will take a great deal of patience and tenacity. And a modicum of pride. With the veterans doing their bit and the youngsters brimming with that wild – yet healthy – desire to take on the world. Left free to play as they know how. Just think about it: we don’t even commit fouls any more – the sort that defenders used to make. Could this, too, be a sign of decline?