The Italian Football Podcast

🇮🇹 BELGIUM VS ITALY: UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW

Belgium host Italy at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Sunday 15 November 2026. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:45 CET on the final matchday of UEFA Nations League A, Group 1.

Nima Tavallaey and Carlo Garganese preview Belgium vs Italy with team news, injuries, predicted lineups, tactical analysis and match predictions,

🧠 HOW CAN MANCINI USE DIMARCO IN A BACK FOUR?

Federico Dimarco is among Italy’s most dangerous attacking players—but how can Roberto Mancini maximise his qualities while retaining a four-man defence?

Should Dimarco start at left-back, operate further forward or receive a specialist tactical role that protects him defensively while allowing him to attack?

🇧🇪 BELGIUM TEAM NEWS

Belgium’s squad includes Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Jérémy Doku, Charles De Ketelaere, Diego Moreira and Youri Tielemans.

Doku returns to the national team, while De Bruyne and Moreira headline the group of Belgium players currently representing Serie A clubs.

Loïs Openda and Zeno Debast are among the Belgian players currently dealing with injury problems.

🏥 ITALY TEAM NEWS

Gianluca Mancini has withdrawn through injury, with Matteo Palma receiving his first senior Italy call-up. Federico Gatti has also been added to Mancini’s squad.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Moise Kean, Matteo Ruggeri and Mohamed Alì Zoma are among Italy’s unavailable players.

The final suspension and availability picture may change following Thursday’s Nations League matches.

🎧 LISTEN TO THE COMPLETE SERIE A MATCHDAY 11 REVIEW

Find “Inter Outclass Como | Napoli Chaos | Italy Nations League Squad” in The Italian Football Podcast feed for the complete episode.

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💬 HOW SHOULD ITALY USE DIMARCO?

How should Mancini use Dimarco in a back four against Belgium—and what is your score prediction?

Let us know what you think on our social channels.

The Italian Football Podcast is the official podcast of Football Italia, covering Serie A, the Italy national team, European football, transfer news and Italian football through analysis, debate and reaction.

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🇮🇹 ITALY VS FRANCE: UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW

Italy host France at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza—San Siro—in Milan on Thursday 12 November 2026. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:45 CET in UEFA Nations League A, Group 1, Matchday 5.

Nima Tavallaey and Carlo Garganese preview Italy vs France with squad reaction, team news, injuries, predicted lineups, tactical analysis and match predictions.

🏆 CAN ITALY KEEP THEIR NATIONS LEAGUE HOPES ALIVE?

France lead Group 1 with ten points, while Roberto Mancini’s Italy sit second on seven.

The Azzurri need a positive result in Milan as they pursue a Nations League quarterfinal place.

How should Mancini approach Kylian Mbappé and a France team now coached by Zinédine Zidane?

🌟 CISSÉ, LIBERALI AND PALMA CALLED UP

Nima and Carlo react to first senior Italy call-ups for Alphadjo Cissé, Mattia Liberali, Riccardo Cassano, Simone Lontani and Matteo Palma.

Federico Gatti has subsequently joined the squad, while the injured Gianluca Mancini has withdrawn.

😡 CALÒ’S AGENT FURIOUS OVER ITALY OMISSION

Why has Giacomo Calò been overlooked despite his impressive Serie A performances—and was his agent justified in publicly criticising the decision?

🏥 ITALY VS FRANCE TEAM NEWS

Italy are without Gianluca Mancini following his injury withdrawal, while Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Moise Kean and Matteo Ruggeri are among the players unavailable to Roberto Mancini.

France welcome Mbappé back but are without several established players, including Ousmane Dembélé, Jules Koundé, Maxence Lacroix and Estéban Lepaul.

🎧 LISTEN TO THE COMPLETE SERIE A MATCHDAY 11 REVIEW

Find “Inter Outclass Como | Napoli Chaos | Italy Nations League Squad” in The Italian Football Podcast feed for the complete episode.

🎥 WATCH THE COMPLETE REVIEW ON YOUTUBE

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⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Italy Squad Reaction: Cissé Called Up as Calò’s Agent Reacts 🇮🇹

08:05 – Italy vs France UEFA Nations League Preview 🏆

💬 CAN ITALY DEFEAT FRANCE AT SAN SIRO?

Who should Mancini start—and can the Azzurri defeat Mbappé and Zidane’s Les Bleus?

Let us know what you think on our social channels.

The Italian Football Podcast is the official podcast of Football Italia, covering Serie A, the Italy national team, European football, transfer news and Italian football through analysis, debate and reaction.

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🔥 INTER OUTCLASS COMO AS NAPOLI DESCEND INTO CHAOS

Nima Tavallaey and Carlo Garganese review Serie A Matchday 11, featuring Cristian Chivu’s finest tactical performance as Inter Milan coach, Cesc Fàbregas accepting responsibility for Como’s exhaustion, complete chaos at Napoli and another devastating attacking display from Roma.

The guys also react to Roberto Mancini’s Italy squad and preview the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against France and Belgium.

🔵⚫ CHIVU TACTICALLY OUTCLASSES FÀBREGAS

How did Inter neutralise Como’s possession-based system, limit Nico Paz’s influence and comprehensively win the tactical battle?

Fàbregas admits that he overplayed an exhausted Paz, Lucas Da Cunha and several other important players following Como’s historic Champions League victory over Lens.

🔵 FÀBREGAS ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY

Did fatigue make Como’s defeat inevitable—or did Fàbregas simply get his tactics wrong against Chivu?

🔷 COMPLETE CHAOS AT NAPOLI

Napoli’s problems continue both on and off the pitch, with a physically unfit Kevin De Bruyne struggling as Massimiliano Allegri keeps his squad inside a military-style training camp.

Can Allegri regain control—or are Napoli’s physical, tactical and institutional problems becoming unsustainable?

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🦅 LAZIO EARN A VALUABLE RESULT

Lazio produce an excellent opening and should have scored more during the first half, but another positive away result continues their outstanding start to the season.

🐺 ROMA’S FREE-FLOWING ATTACK DELIVERS AGAIN

Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma have now scored 31 goals across their opening 11 Serie A matches.

Can their extraordinary attacking production transform Roma into genuine Scudetto contenders?

⚫⚪ SPALLETTI AND JUVENTUS ARE NOT SAFE

Juventus remain six points outside the Champions League positions, leaving Luciano Spalletti with significant work still to do.

Elsewhere, Sassuolo coach Alberto Aquilani comes under increasing pressure following a fifth consecutive defeat.

🔴⚫ AC MILAN REACH THE TOP FOUR

Ruben Amorim’s decision to prioritise Serie A and effectively sacrifice the Europa League appears to be paying off as AC Milan enter the Champions League positions.

Fiorentina’s attack and midfield impress, but David de Gea and the defence produce a horror show.

⚽ BEST OF THE REST

Venezia overcome an Udinese side in crisis, Raffaele Palladino’s Bologna winning machine continues and Marco Carnesecchi rescues Atalanta.

Cagliari return to winning ways against Frosinone, while Lecce secure their first draw of the season.

🇮🇹 ITALY NATIONS LEAGUE SQUAD REACTION

Nima and Carlo react to Alphadjo Cissé’s Italy call-up and Giacomo Calò’s exclusion.

The guys also preview Italy vs France and Belgium vs Italy—including the major tactical question of how Mancini can accommodate Federico Dimarco in a four-man defence.

🍍 BAGGIO OF THE WEEK: NO PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA

Italian chef Davide Tamburella is dismissed by an Australian restaurant owner after repeatedly refusing to serve pineapple pizza, describing it as an insult to his culture.

🤡 PREMFACE: “POUNDLAND JAMES TRAFFORD”

TalkSPORT’s Adrian Durham brands Gianluigi Donnarumma “Poundland James Trafford” following the goalkeeper’s Champions League mistake.

📏 SERIE ASS: THE CROOKED GOAL LINE

Torino vs Lecce is delayed after Hawk-Eye discovers that one of the goal lines is approximately seven centimetres crooked.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Serie A Matchday 11 Overview 🎙️

01:40 – Inter Milan: Chivu Outclasses Fàbregas With His Best Tactical Performance 🔵⚫

14:29 – Como: Fàbregas Admits to Overplaying an Exhausted Paz and Da Cunha 🔵

21:30 – Napoli: Chaos as an Unfit De Bruyne Struggles During Allegri’s Training Camp 🔷

38:03 – Lazio: Excellent First Half but Draw at Napoli Remains Valuable 🦅

42:53 – Roma: Free-Flowing Attack Reaches 31 Goals in 11 Matches 🐺

50:39 – Sassuolo: Aquilani Under Pressure After Fifth Consecutive Defeat 🟢⚫

51:26 – Juventus: Spalletti Still Six Points From the Top Four ⚫⚪

59:44 – Fiorentina: De Gea and Defence Produce Horror Show ⚜️

01:02:37 – AC Milan: Amorim Reaches the Top Four After Prioritising Serie A 🔴⚫

01:06:30 – Best of the Rest Across Serie A ⚽

01:07:48 – Italy Squad Reaction: Cissé Called Up as Calò’s Agent Reacts 🇮🇹

01:15:53 – Italy vs France and Belgium vs Italy Preview 🧠

01:28:32 – Baggio: Italian Chef Dismissed Over Pineapple Pizza 🍍

01:32:01 – Premface: Donnarumma Branded “Poundland James Trafford” 🤡

01:34:44 – Serie ASS: Crooked Goal Line Delays Torino vs Lecce 📏

01:40:23 – Upcoming Shows and Teasers 📣

💬 DID CHIVU OUTCLASS FÀBREGAS?

Was this Chivu’s best tactical performance as Inter coach—and can Allegri restore order at Napoli?

Let us know what you think on our social channels.

The Italian Football Podcast is the official podcast of Football Italia, providing Serie A reviews, Italy national-team coverage, transfer news and tactical analysis across Italian football.

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WHY DID ASTON VILLA THREATEN TO SUE JAMIE CARRAGHER?

Aston Villa threatened legal action against Jamie Carragher after the former Liverpool defender criticised the club, discussed Unai Emery potentially joining Manchester United and directed insulting language towards Villa supporters.

Nima Tavallaey and Carlo Garganese debate one of the most extraordinary football-media controversies of the season—and whether a Premier League club should ever threaten to sue a pundit over his opinions and language.

⚠️ UPDATE

Since this discussion was recorded, Jamie Carragher has apologised and Aston Villa have dropped their planned legal action.

⚖️ DID CARRAGHER CROSS THE LINE?

Was Carragher merely expressing a provocative football opinion—or did his language cross an unacceptable line?

Should a football club ever threaten legal action against a pundit for comments about its size, supporters or manager?

🏟️ ASTON VILLA PROTECTING THEIR REPUTATION OR OVERREACTING?

Were Aston Villa defending their reputation and supporters, or did the legal threat make the club appear insecure and unable to tolerate criticism?

Carragher subsequently apologised for his language, describing it as wrong and explaining that his comments were intended tongue-in-cheek. Aston Villa then confirmed that they would not proceed with the planned legal action.

🎧 LISTEN TO THE COMPLETE SERIE A MATCHDAY 10 REVIEW

Find “Moreira Stuns Inter | Alajbegovic Saves Juventus | Lazio Top of Serie A” in The Italian Football Podcast feed for the complete episode.

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💬 WAS THE LEGAL THREAT A MASSIVE OVERREACTION?

Were Aston Villa right to threaten legal action against Jamie Carragher—or should the controversy never have escalated that far?

Let us know what you think on our social channels.

The Italian Football Podcast is the official podcast of Football Italia, providing a weekly Serie A review, transfer news and tactical analysis covering Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Roma, Napoli and the Azzurri.

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🔴⚫ IS ADRIEN RABIOT EUROPE’S MOST UNDERRATED MIDFIELDER?

Has Adrien Rabiot been the most underrated midfielder in European football over the last decade?

Nima Tavallaey and Sheridan Bird assess Rabiot’s tactical intelligence, physical qualities, technical ability and performances—and ask why such an accomplished midfielder continues to divide opinion.

Has Rabiot finally received the appreciation he deserves, or does the criticism surrounding his career remain justified?

🐺 WHY WON’T GASPERINI LEARN FROM HIS MISTAKES?

Why does Gian Piero Gasperini continue repeating the mistakes that have prevented him from winning the Serie A title?

The guys examine Roma’s repeated late collapses against Real Madrid, Manchester United and Inter—and ask whether the problem is tactical, psychological or both.

🏗️ HOW CAN ITALY’S BIG THREE BECOME EUROPEAN POWERS AGAIN?

What structural changes must Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus make to become genuine European powerhouses again?

Nima and Sheridan discuss recruitment, sporting leadership, stadiums, infrastructure and the institutional problems preventing Italy’s biggest clubs from consistently challenging Europe’s elite.

👔 WHY DID FIORENTINA AND ATALANTA LET PALLADINO LEAVE?

With Raffaele Palladino performing impressively at Bologna, did Fiorentina and Atalanta make serious mistakes by allowing him to leave?

🦅 CAN PALERMO FINALLY RETURN TO SERIE A?

Could Palermo finally secure promotion from Serie B—and do they possess the foundations required to become a stable Serie A club?

🤡 THE GREATEST PREMFACE MOMENT EVER?

Was Jamie Carragher appearing drunk in Borussia Dortmund’s Yellow Wall the greatest Premface moment in history?

🎬 WHICH SERIE A LEGEND DESERVES A NETFLIX DRAMA?

Finally, Nima and Sheridan choose the Serie A legend whose extraordinary life story most deserves to become a Netflix drama.

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⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Is Adrien Rabiot Europe’s Most Underrated Midfielder of the Last Decade? 🔴⚫

07:09 – Why Won’t Gasperini Learn From His Mistakes and Finally Win Serie A? 🐺

10:42 – Why Do Roma Keep Collapsing Late Against Real Madrid, Manchester United and Inter? 📉

14:50 – What Must Inter, AC Milan and Juventus Do to Become European Powers Again? 🏗️

18:53 – Why Did Fiorentina and Atalanta Let Palladino Leave? 👔

23:10 – Will Palermo Finally Return to Serie A and Become a Stable Top-Flight Club? 🦅

27:11 – Is Jamie Carragher in Dortmund’s Yellow Wall the Greatest Premface Moment Ever? 🤡

30:44 – Which Serie A Legend’s Life Deserves a Netflix Drama? 🎬

40:17 – Outro: Upcoming Shows and Teasers 📣

💬 IS RABIOT EUROPE’S MOST UNDERRATED MIDFIELDER?

Is there another midfielder who deserves that title more than Rabiot?

Let us know what you think on our social channels.

The Italian Football Podcast is the official podcast of Football Italia, covering Serie A, the Italy national team, the Champions League, transfer news and Italian football through analysis, debate and reaction.

YOUR support makes The Italian Football Podcast possible.

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