Riccardo Calafiori sends defiant message to Italy fans as Arsenal star reacts to 'avoidable' Belgium defeat

Italy suffered a hugely disappointing start to their Nations League campaign as they were swept aside by Belgium. The Azzurri fell to a 2-0 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome following a series of costly defensive errors.

Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio punished the hosts to secure a vital victory for the visitors, waltzing through the backline on both occasions. The defeat marked an incredibly frustrating start to the second Roberto Mancini era for the national team.

Despite the bitter loss, it was a notable night on a personal level for Calafiori. The Arsenal defender was deployed at left-back for the first time in his senior international career, returning to a role he traditionally adopts at club level.

Following the final whistle, Calafiori offered an honest assessment of his team's disjointed performance. The versatile defender acknowledged the defensive frailties on display, but he insisted that progress is slowly being made behind the scenes.

"I saw a good team in fits and starts," Calafiori told RAI Sport. "We’ve just started working with a new coach, but other areas I didn’t like, we left gaps and conceded two avoidable goals. We must try to look on the positive aspects. There is a lot of work to do, we’ve just started with a new coach, so we’ll see."

The frustration surrounding the result was evident both on the pitch and in the stands. A sparsely populated Stadio Olimpico made their feelings perfectly known, as patience has seemingly run out completely for the home supporters. Italy were heavily jeered as they left the pitch, a hostile reaction that clearly impacted the players.

"They hurt, because at times I felt the passion of the crowd," he admitted. "We’ve got to do better, we all know that, starting from the next match."

The Azzurri will now return to the training pitch to desperately address the defensive gaps that cost them so dearly against Belgium. Calafiori and his team-mates face immense pressure to deliver a much-improved performance and win back the fans in their next fixture.