Italy vs. Belgium | UEFA Nations League | Pre Match

Setting the pace atop League A Group 2 after a superb start in September, Italy will welcome Belgium to Rome for a UEFA Nations League contest on Thursday.

While the Azzurri secured maximum points last month, the Red Devils were castigated by their own captain following another dismal defeat to France.

After making a tame defence of their European title during the summer, Italy bounced back by getting off to a fast start in this season's Nations League, and they will be seeking a third successive win when they meet Belgium at Stadio Olimpico.

The Azzurri kicked off their campaign with a shock 3-1 victory over France: having conceded a calamitous goal within just 13 seconds of kickoff, Federico Dimarco scored a sublime equaliser, then strikes from Davide Frattesi and Giacomo Raspadori wrapped up three points in Paris.

Three days later, Luciano Spalletti's side saw off Israel to secure an early lead in Group 2, giving more credence to their mercurial coach's claims of a fresh start.

At Euro 2024, they never found their rhythm and ultimately limped out in the last 16, so new blood has been brought in to aid their latest quest for a first Nations League crown.

Just before Spalletti was appointed, Italy reached the 2023 finals by winning their group, but they could only manage a third-place finish in the four-team tournament.

Now aiming to go at least one better this time around, Italians must claim a top-two placing in their League A group, which would see them qualify for the new quarter-final stage.

Picking up more points in midweek - and from Monday's return match against Israel in Udine - would put them on track to do so, as La Nazionale's rebuild continues.

While their hosts have tried to turn a page on past failings, familiar problems resurfaced during Belgium's September get-together, which had started well enough, with a 3-1 win over Israel.

Captain and playmaker Kevin De Bruyne scored twice in the Red Devils' Nations League opener, but a few days later he was caught bitterly lamenting his teammates' lack of fight against old foes France.

Having headed to Lyon seeking some revenge for their tame exit from Euro 2024, which came at the hands of Les Bleus just two months previously, Belgium were beaten 2-0 and came in for some stinging criticism from their frustrated skipper.

Under-fire boss Domenico Tedesco is hoping to help his side build momentum before looking towards the 2026 World Cup, but De Bruyne has since temporarily stepped down from international duty, alongside all-time top scorer Romelu Lukaku.

In addition to his unresolved spat with Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, that has drawn questions about Tedesco's approach to man-management, as he tries to keep several big egos content while integrating fresh faces.

After Belgium were unable to reach the last Nations League finals, showing some progress this season might keep their current coach in a job, but he could do with picking up more points sooner rather than later.