Roberto Mancini promised changes in personnel for Italy s clash with the Netherlands after watching his side slump to a 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Nations League.
Mancini s men had won their previous 11 consecutive games – an Azzurri record – but fell behind at Stadio Artemio Franchi when Roma striker Edin Dzeko gave the visitors a second-half lead.
Inter midfielder Stefano Sensi equalised with a deflected strike to earn Italy a share of the points in a game that saw them struggle to break down a packed Bosnia-Herzegovina defence.
Torino s Andrea Belotti started in attack ahead of Lazio s talismanic forward Ciro Immobile and Mancini may consider that position for one of his planned changes.
The draw doesn t change our plans, Mancini told Rai Sport.
Our game plan won t change against the Netherlands, but we ll change personnel.
[Giorgio] Chiellini didn t play because we feared risking injury.
It s a shame not to have won. Tiredness played a role but the boys played well.
All square in the s first outing in this edition of the . Stefano s equaliser was his second Italy goal
— Italy (@azzurri)
Sensi, whose only previous goal for his country came in a 6-0 drubbing of Liechtenstein in March 2019, admitted the result fell short of Italy s expectations.
The Azzurri won just one of their four Nations League games in 2018 and will need to improve against the Netherlands on Monday if they are to pick up their first victory of this year s competition.
I m happy to score, but there s a lot of regret about the result, said Sensi.
Coming back together after 10 months wasn t easy.
It was hard to find the spaces. We should ve been a lot quicker on the ball.
