Ciro Immobile reiterated his disappointment at Italy’s World Cup qualifying disaster following a dominating performance in Lazio’s win over Genoa, where he netted a hat-trick.
The 32-year-old Italian striker scored once in the first half and twice in the second to guide the Biancocelesti to a win at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris this afternoon. It’s a key victory for Maurizio Sarri’s side, who are desperately fighting to secure European qualification this season.
Immobile was one of the most criticised Azzurri players following their 1-0 loss to North Macedonia, something that he’s not too happy about.
“Criticism is part of the sport, not when people invent mean things, that’s when I get upset, Immobile told Sky Sport Italia.
“I am disappointed by the World Cup play-offs and the derby, but I am as responsible as everyone else who participated in this failure. We are teams, we win and lose together.
“When such heavy defeats arrive, you cannot point the finger at one or two individuals, it is to be shared by everyone.”
There have been suggestions that Immobile could even retire from international duty after this season.
“I never back down, that’s what I have always done in my career. I am focusing on the rest of the season, I hope to end it well with Lazio and then we’ll see.”
Immobile now has 24 Serie A goals under his belt this season, leapfrogging Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic at the top of the Capocannoniere charts.
“Vlahovic is having a great campaign, it’s a tough battle up there. As always, the coach, staff and my teammates put me in a condition to score all these goals, so the credit goes also to them.
“I want to thank my family, because they stood by me and supported me, including during this recent difficult period.”
Lazio also temporarily moved in front of bitter rivals Roma into fifth place, ahead of the Giallorossi’s game with Salernitana this evening.
“We struggled a little at the start, but now we are playing the football the coach wants, we’re enjoying ourselves and entertaining the fans too.
“I was almost a trequartista at times, but the coach told me not to stray too far away from what I am, he’ll be happy with my performance today.”
#GenoaLazio, così #Immobile: "Sarri sta diventando importante per me. Nazionale? Non mi tiro indietro"https://t.co/QsLsTNewrP
— Sportface (@sportface2016) April 10, 2022
3 goals today… Berardi with a goal today.
But where are the goals since September 2021 in Azzurro?
This is going to really hurt when November rolls around. Messed up part is I believe this team COULD have turned thing around and went to the QF’s. As quick as we lost the spark, no saying it couldn’t have turned around just as quick,
Thanks Jorginho.
@brandon if Ciro just scored 1-2 goals in last 15 games for Azzurri, Italy would be Nations League Champs and going to world cup in November STILL undefeated.
we’d all have something to look foward to in Qatar.
imo most likely Italy could of made it to semifinals.
no real telling where Italy would of ended up in draw had they auto-qualified like they were supposed to. yet had they won playoffs they’d be in group H in Portugals spot i imagine.
when its all said and done and looked back on, i agree…it all comes down to Jorginho. 3 misses in row in must make situation is instant banishment from the national team/call ups.
Yup.
But for what its worth, Immobile didn’t play in the Nations League SF match versus Spain due to injury. But his lack of goals cost us elsewhere.