Mancini gets first win back as Italy beat Turkey 4-1

Roberto Mancini secured his first win since returning as Italy manager with a 4-1 victory over Turkey in the UEFA Nations League in Bursa, a much-improved display that followed Friday's home defeat by Belgium.

The 61-year-old was appointed for a second time last month after the departure of Gennaro Gattuso in April, when the Azzurri failed to qualify for a third successive World Cup. His first game back ended in disappointment, prompting questions over whether that failure was still hanging over the nation.

Italy answered them by racing into a three-goal lead inside the first half.

Three first-half goals put Italy in control

Alessandro Bastoni gave Italy a ninth-minute lead, turning in from a corner.

Davide Frattesi added the second, firing home after Michael Kayode's shot had been parried. Kayode then got the third himself on his international debut, running on to Pio Esposito's pass, cutting inside and finding the back of the net.

Turkey were booed off by their own supporters at half-time as they continued the poor form that saw them exit the World Cup at the group stage.

Yilmaz responds before Esposito restores the lead

The hosts, managed by former Italy striker Vincenzo Montella, got a goal back early in the second half when Baris Alper Yilmaz swept in his sixth international goal.

Poor defending proved their undoing once again, though, as Italy restored their healthy advantage in the 50th minute. Sandro Tonali's shot hit the post and Esposito was there to head in the rebound.

Turkey, to their credit, battled hard to get back into the game and had several chances after Yilmaz's goal, but the damage had been done in the first half.

What the result means in Group A1

The win takes Italy on to three points from two games in League A Group 1, where France lead on six after beating Belgium 1-0. Belgium sit second on three, while Turkey remain pointless after two matches.

Elsewhere in the Nations League on Monday, Georgia and Ukraine drew 0-0, Northern Ireland and Hungary played out the same score line, Bosnia-Herzegovina beat Romania 4-2, Sweden beat Poland 3-1, Montenegro won 3-2 in Armenia and Latvia drew 0-0 with Cyprus.

Can Mancini restore the Azzurri?

Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup meant they had not played at international football's showpiece event since 2014. Mancini previously managed Italy from 2018 until 2023 and won Euro 2020, beating England in the final at Wembley, and that success will give fans hope he can guide the nation back to the finals at the very least.

The score line in Bursa will provide encouragement, though it is difficult to judge how good this Italy side were, with Turkey largely the architects of their own downfall in a dreadful first-half display.

Italy deserved the success following an impressive opening 45 minutes, but a visit to Group 1 leaders France on Friday will provide a clearer indication of how much work Mancini and his men still need to do to get back among the elite footballing nations.

Mancini set his side up in a 4-3-3 with Gianluigi Donnarumma as captain, while Montella's Turkey lined up in a 3-4-3 with Merih Demiral wearing the armband before being replaced at half-time. Turkey picked up three yellow cards, Can Uzun in the 38th minute, Yilmaz in the 54th and Ozan Kabak in the 72nd.

SportsLigue