Even though Argentina-born striker Mateo Retegui scored for a second straight match in an Euro 2024 qualifier on Sunday, Italy coach Roberto Mancini cautioned that Retegui "needs time" to learn.

The 23-year-old is currently on loan at Tigres from Boca Juniors and is eligible to play for the reigning champions thanks to his Italian grandfather.

However, he continues to play club football in Argentina.

He scored the opening goal in Italy's 2-0 Group C victory in Malta on Sunday, looking right at home.

His debut goal in the 2-1 home loss to England on Thursday was followed by a header in the fifteenth minute.

"He unlocked the match, he was essential today," said Mancini.

"But I repeat: he needs time, he still needs to learn more about European football."

Retegui, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and full-back Giovanni De Lorenzo were the only men to keep their places in the starting line-up after the loss to England.

Matteo Pessina added Italy's second goal on Sunday from a cross by Emerson in the 27th minute.

"These are matches where you have everything to lose," added Mancini.

"We did some good things, some not so good.

The important thing was to win. "We could have scored more, but there you go. These are particular kinds of matches, where it's difficult to play, you don't have a lot of space."