Daniele De Rossi admits missing the 2018 World Cup taught Italy a valuable lesson and he’s ‘learned a lot’ already working in Roberto Mancini’s staff.
The Azzurri begin their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign at 19.45 GMT against Northern Ireland.
You can check the line-ups and follow the action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
Daniele De Rossi admits missing the 2018 World Cup taught Italy a valuable lesson and he’s ‘learned a lot’ already working in Roberto Mancini’s staff.
The Azzurri begin their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign at 19.45 GMT against Northern Ireland.
You can check the line-ups and follow the action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
“We have bad memories of the last World Cup that we didn’t qualify for, so that has to remain in our memories, knowing we can get it wrong and nothing must be taken for granted,” De Rossi told RAI Sport.
“We wouldn’t have this love and respect for the jersey if it didn’t burn us up inside to miss that tournament. On a personal level, it would’ve been my fourth World Cup, so that remains a huge regret.”
De Rossi has joined Mancini’s Italy staff going into Euro 2020, which was postponed from last summer, as he is trying to start his management career.
“I learned a lot over the last few days and felt the atmosphere of football again. Having said that, when I left, the football didn’t involve masks. Now there are many more problems and the staff deserve so much credit for getting the job done.
“I can’t thank Mancini and his staff enough. I am trying to learn and hopefully give my small contribution to the Nazionale.
“The players were coming off Sunday’s games, so we had to initially make it a soft approach to training, but you can see this is football based on possession. It’s attractive football, it excites me and I want to learn more.”