Portugal 1-0 Italy: Hits and Flops, UEFA Nations League 2018/19

#4 Flop: Mancini's rotation policy

Mancini still hasn't found his best team yet

Italy manager Roberto Mancini made as many as 9 changes to the line-up that started against Poland in the previous clash. Ostracizing all the primus inter pares, he went with a group of young and inexperienced players. Whilst it reflects on the manager's propensity to hand the young guns a chance, the timing to do so was incorrect. Having dropped points in the first game, it was imperative for the Azzurri's to pick up at least another point here considering Portugal are a bigger proposition than Poland too.

However, Mancini paid the price. The defensive quartet of Criscito, Romagnoli, Caldara and Lazzari seems like a makeshift backline, while the absence of Bernardeschi and Insigne sapped the team of creativity. Immobile and Zaza were starved of proper service and on their part, failed to conjure a rabbit out of their own hat as well. Donnarumma was the sole bright spot for this team over two games.

Mancini can try out a formation like this during the inconsequential friendlies, but experimenting during a competitive game can have direct repercussions on the Euro 2020 qualifiers if results turn out like this. Either way, he's running out of time.