Italy out of the World Cup – live reactions: how did it happen again?

Mancini’s decisions cost the team he made winners.

For such an astute manager he lost his way and became complacent.

3-0 vs Turkey and Switzerland were Italy’s finest results at the Euros in terms of scoring and team balance and that was without their best two players Chiesa (without doubt) and Verratti (most would agree a few may not)…

So how was this possible…

Italy won those two games so convincingly using a high energy midfield, and then an incredible wingback in Spinazzola.

Locatelli played both games alongside an in form Barella creating fast transitions throughout. And then Verratti came in, the player everyone wanted to be fit, even a 75 per cent fit Verratti did nothing wrong but it was difficult to notice the difference, starting from the Wales match being a group positional game rather than a decisive one in which the entire line up changed, it wasn’t a game to compare to the previous two.

Then the struggles against Austria began. Until a few adjustments namely by the introduction of Chiesa.

Dropping Locatelli, made the midfield too similar but this was foiled by Chiesa, from there on in his energy and pacy play alongside Spina, and Barella kept the energy levels of the team up.

Take out Spina, Italy struggled with Spain albeit with master tactics of Enrique getting his wingers too hug the touchline and using Olmo as a false 9 to pull everyone out of position and overload the midfield. It took a moment of brilliance from Fede and a strong defensive showing for Italy to get to win that match.

The final, Italy were always going to out play an overrated England midfield.

BUT Mancini had the signs through the lack of goals that flowed after the first two group games, and when they did come they were either directly through the energetic Spinazzola and Chiesa or by both or one in the team.

Immobile was carried in the Euros despite the nay sayers suggesting his energy helped the team, his goals were needed more.

Verratti isn’t the problem – Jorginho is. Both similar, but Verratti offers more, with faster and more energetic players like Locatelli, Tonali, Pellegrini Zaniolo, and even Pessina Italy should have adjusted post euros and found that early rhythm in the tournament, which they proved they could play with without Chiesa and that became a necessity with his injury.

The Nations league was a prime competition to test and rest players for the all important World Cup qualification, many said it at the time but Mancini was almost cursed by a shadow of Lippi as he continued to use the same players whether they were in or out of form.

Insigne for example – where is is heart, it’s certainly not in legacy and his move to Toronto proves that, not to offend any of my friends in Canada – he took a money move, rather than a career defining one, to one of the big European clubs that showed interest. That in it self raises questions of his commitment and thus a starting place in the team, add to that poor form, his age and the fact that had Italy qualified for the World Cup he would have been playing the previous months in Canada.

The exclusion of Kean, Balotelli, Scammacca (albeit being injured) and Zaniolo, players that in a moment can create more of a spark off the bench than the front line failed to produce in the entire match. When you have it all to lose, you regret the risks you didn’t take and Mancini has moulded into a conservative manager.

Italy started the Mancini era with an issue in scoring goals and he persevered with Immobile but Immobile never solved the problem, unfortunately his era ends or perhaps this part of it ends, facing the same problem.

It was a long time coming.

Irrespective of the injuries, a squad more than capable of winning the World Cup is now watching it at home.

No doubt, the formalities will change one day so that the European Champions get an automatic place at the World Cup and perhaps this is the last time we ever see a poorly organised and one sided layout in a playoffs favouring those that get back to back home games (all the finals should have been neutral). Nevertheless, that wasn’t Italy’s problem – beating Macedonia was and say what you like, Italy should have been beating Macedonia, no excuses.

they didnt even score…they didnt meet Portugal which would of at least been a true test and great game.
this is irrepressible irreparable damage to all of calcio national and club.

Here we go again, Italy lost because the players can’t finish in front of goal.
I have said countless times the hardest thing a scorer can do is put the ball in the net, not over it , not left or right or directly into a goaltenders hands. Great players finish and score, how many oppurtunities did Italy have? The score should have been 4-0 going into the last 15 minutes but pressure causes these young players to fail when they have many chances to succeed, sometimes easily. As in many sports the game and scoring is mental, confidence and poise need to be taught just as technical skills are. Finishing wins games and great players finish. Sadly, They couldn’t finish all game.

Mick, how can the European champions possibly get an automatic place at the World Cup when the World Cup winners do not?
Anyway, it’s better to qualify for a World Cup so that they have had competitive games rather than friendlies.