Mancini: "Playing for qualification in the Nations League is a source of pride"

Italy head coach Roberto Mancini has said that playing for qualification in the Nations League is a source of pride, ahead of Sunday's match against Belgium in Brussels.

Italy, who moved to the top of Group A1 by beating France 3-1 on Thursday, have not yet secured a place in the quarter-finals. Ahead of Sunday's final group matches, Italy and France have 10 points each, while third-placed Belgium are just one point behind on 9.

A draw at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels would guarantee Italy a place in the last eight, while a win would see them finish top of the group. Belgium won the first meeting between the two sides 2-0 in Rome in September. Mancini returned to take charge of the team in the summer, after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row.

Speaking to Sky Sport before the match, Mancini said: "Is it worth just three points or is it worth more? Being here and playing for qualification in the Nations League is a source of pride. We're here and we're going for it, we can win it even though we know it won't be easy because Belgium are a great national team."

The Italy head coach also gave his assessment of the opposition: "We'll play our own game and I think Belgium are a team with good players, technical and quick. It won't be very different from the match against France."

At Saturday's press conference, Mancini said: "We start with a slight advantage, but that doesn't mean we should settle for it. It will be a good match against a team that went out to Spain at the World Cup only in the last minute."

Belgium kept their quarter-final hopes alive going into the final match by beating Türkiye 2-1 away on Thursday. Belgium have won three of their five matches in this Nations League, with both of their defeats coming against France.