The countdown to the Nations League debut is almost over, although Rolando Mara and his staff still have things to improve on when Albania and Belarus take to the field tonight at 8:45 p.m. The anticipation of the debut in the competition, in which the objectives have been stated, expectations have increased and the bar has been raised high, has involved the players, but also the coach himself.
Maran has made an unusual start with the Rossoneri, suffering defeats in the two friendlies that should have been their springboard. At this point, beyond the justification that it takes time and adaptation, the nervousness in the environment cannot be ignored, when the series of defeats in total is five. So, the Italian technician is himself the first in a test, from which he must emerge with high marks, to avoid a hasty judgment of the fans, who are used to tasting the taste of big tournaments. The minutes and injuries have also worked against the Italian, losing Pajaziti, Laçi and Balli before the tour of strength of 4 matches in 11 days has even started.
Then, even with the responsibility of the one who made the choices, Maran has called up players without minutes like Hysaj and Kumbulla, not to mention the debutant from Serie C, who seems illogical to think that they will face four 90 minutes in a row, where the main weight falls on Hysaj, the only role player. But these are calculations that will be made in the end, first Maran must win the match, to win the fans and calm down and to put himself in a comfortable position to win the group. Otherwise, the road will become more uphill than it currently is.
The delicate situation of the national team
The national team has entered the process of preparing for its debut in the Nations League, against Belarus, with the weight of an unusual series of losses: 5 in a row, equaling the 2016-17 season when Spain, Israel, Italy, Bosnia and Luxembourg gave Gianni De Biasi the longest negative series in his red and black career. We are still far from the record of 10 losses in the period 1989–1991, where it started with 0-2 against England and ended with 0-2 against Czechoslovakia, but 5 losses are not few. And as a coincidence, Israel and Luxembourg appear in the last two series of losses, which it must be said, this current one has two different technical directions.
At the end of November 2025, in the last match of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Sylvinho saw his team lose at home to England 0-2, still reaching the playoff semi-finals. And there, in the match against Poland, the Brazilian lost 2-1, sealing the end of his contract with the Rossoneri, although his last match in charge was a friendly against the loser of the other playoff semi-final match against Ukraine, but with a score of 1-0.
And precisely to give Rolando Maran a springboard start and more pleasure for the fans, the two friendlies with which the Italian coach debuted on the bench of the National Team in June were played at home. Only the result was the same: 0-1 surrendered to Israel and Luxembourg. Three home losses out of five is actually a problem, because what should have been the strong point of the Rossoneri, as happened in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, has turned into an easily conquered fortress and before the home match with Belarus, Maran must ask himself more than one question.
