Calafiori had never scored for Italy, and his header off the bench beat Türkiye 3-1 in Bologna

Riccardo Calafiori had never scored for Italy. He came off the bench in Bologna on Monday night, 5 October, and headed the goal that put Italy back in front against Türkiye, three minutes after they had been pegged back. Pio Esposito added a third late on, Italy won 3-1, and Roberto Mancini has his first home win since returning as coach.

Nine changes, and Scamacca still scores

Mancini rang the changes after the 1-1 draw in Paris. Alessandro Bastoni was the only outfield player kept from that side, Moise Kean was injured, and Antonio Vergara and Issa Doumbia made their first starts. It did not stop Italy taking the lead. Gianluca Scamacca hit a right-footed shot from the middle of the box in the 26th minute.

Türkiye were short of their best players. Arda Güler and Barış Alper Yılmaz were suspended, and Vincenzo Montella made six changes from the side that lost in Liège. Even so, they drew level just after the hour. Eren Elmalı set up Aral Şimşir to finish from close range, the forward’s first competitive goal for his country in only his second senior cap.

Calafiori’s first, then Esposito’s

The lead was back almost at once. Nicolò Barella swung a free-kick to the far post and Calafiori, the Arsenal defender, looped a header in for 2-1. It was his first goal for Italy in his 17th cap, scored at the Dall’Ara, where his career took off with Bologna. Türkiye appealed, and VAR let it stand.

Esposito, another substitute, settled it three minutes from time. Alessandro Romano picked him out and he finished from close in. Gianluigi Donnarumma had made the important saves early on, before Italy got their noses in front.

Mancini knew the changes had made it harder. “We knew that changing nine players would cost us something, but we had no alternative,” he said, and he called Türkiye “a very good national team”. Montella said his side’s target remained the European Championship.

Italy second, Türkiye still on zero

The result takes Italy to seven points and second in Group 1 of League A, three behind France, who beat Belgium 4-1 at the same time. Belgium are third on six. Türkiye have lost all four games, two of them to Italy after the 4-1 defeat in Bursa a week earlier.

Italy’s last two group games are in November: France at San Siro on 12 November, then Belgium in Brussels on 15 November.

More from our international football coverage