Football NewsFootball ItaliaUnverified source· 24 Sept 2026
Donnarumma: World Cup pain still raw before Belgium clash
Italy's captain admits the World Cup play-off wound is too painful to reopen as a new era begins against Belgium.
G. Donnarumma
player
Fixture
Italy vs Belgium
Competition
Nations League Group A
Venue
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Kick-off
20.45 CEST Friday
What happened. Gianluigi Donnarumma said Italy's players avoided discussing their World Cup play-off defeat, focusing instead on tomorrow's Nations League match against Belgium. He called the summer very long and difficult but insisted the team must start again.
- Italy lost the 2026 World Cup play-off final to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties after Alessandro Bastoni's red card.
- Donnarumma praised new faces, singling out Cagliari midfielder Alessandro Romano, tipped to start.
- He said the old guard must help the youngsters settle through difficult moments.
“The truth is that there was zero discussion between us, other than today for a minute”
— Gianluigi Donnarumma
Italy open their Nations League Group A campaign against Belgium in Rome, with France and Turkiye completing the group.
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