Italian media defend Roberto Mancini after the embarrassing 1-0 loss against North Macedonia and FIGC President Gabriele Gravina said he hopes Mancio doesn’t leave. But should the CT resign now?
Mancini extended his contract with the Azzurri before the Euros last summer, but his future is now in strong doubt following Italy’s second straight elimination from the World Cup.
Gravina has already clarified that he won’t sack the CT, so it’s Mancini who must decide on his future. “We will see. I think everyone is too disappointed right now to talk about the future,” he told Rai Sport last night. As per La Gazzetta dello Sport, Fabio Cannavaro is the leading candidate to replace Mancini if he resigns.
At least reading Italian sports papers this morning, the general feeling in Italy is that Mancini is the last to be blamed and media are somehow protecting the coach.
‘It would be a mistake to blame Mancini, the whole system must be changed,’ is the column of La Gazzetta dello Sport editor Stefano Barigelli.
‘Dear CT, don’t go,’ wrote Tuttosport’s Xavier Jacobelli. Ivan Zazzaroni, of Il Corriere dello Sport, did write that Mancini is the first responsible for Italy’s failure but didn’t call for his sacking or dismissal. ‘Football is a lie,’ is the title of his column.
It is incredible to think Mancini should be sacked and this line of “media are somehow protecting the coach” is amateur journalism to be kind.
To think where Mancini picked this group up from post the disaster that was Ventura to winning the Euros I think he has earned just a little bit of credit in the bank. Whilst I do not agree with some of his decisions (picking the likes of Joao Pedro, seriously…!?!) the blame has to lie at the feet of players, it is as simple as that.
Yes Jorginho’s 2 penalty misses did not help matters, but the bigger picture is Italy just does not have a lethal striker with a killer instinct to kill games off. Players such as Immobile and Insigne, to produce that many shots and chances and not be able to score 1 is a sorry state of affairs that Italian football currently finds itself in and a by product of that is having to rely on a Joao Pedro and the like who have average goal scoring stats!
Muzaffar. You’re wrong.
He deserves a lot of credit for bringing home the trophy but there’s no excuse for not delivering world cup qualification. We never learn. We become complacent and scared of change. Perhaps it’s blind loyalty.
Donnarumma has no reason to be starting. Forget anything he’s done in the past. This year, he has looked like a Sunday league goalkeeper. Way too many mistakes.
Not only does Calabria have to question how Florenzi (his deputy at club level) is starting ahead of him, he has to see De Sciglio called up ahead of him as well.
Tonali – Arguably the best player for Milan this season. Young and hungry to showcase his ability for his country. Does he have to wait for Jorginho to retire? Mancini should have used this last year to bed him into the XI.
Immobile has been trusted way too long. Scamacca is a game changer and should’ve been given his chance long before now. Insigne is another that has had a weak year – shouldn’t be starting.
I now hope/expect to see Bonucci, Chiellini, Florenzi, Jorginho, Insigne and even Immobile retire.
Gravina should be axed for choosing to back Mancini too.
I prefer to lose to Macedonia than Portugal. This way there isn’t the excuse that “we lost to a great side.” I’m pretty confident that Portugal will thrash them too. We need an overhaul. Clubs need to be incentivized to play Italians too.
YES!
I hope he stays. Best CT we have had so lets not be ungrateful
I have mixed feelings on this. On the plus side, Mancini did a fine job in picking Italy up off the floor after 2018, introducing the younger talents, playing an attacking brand of football, winning the Euros and going on a record-breaking unbeaten run.
The negatives, the complete and utter failure to recognize and react to the repeated failures of Immobile and Insigne in attack (yes, they’ve had their moments though sadly they were few and far between), rejecting merit based call-ups and remaining loyal to players who were either exhausted (Barella) or were not doing the business, sticking rigidly with 433 which opponents are now fully aware of (predictable).
Should he remain, he will have to make significant changes to the personnel, adhering to merit – select only fit and in-form players, use the Nations League/friendlies to blood new talent and test different systems….
Mancini won the Euro, the players were responsable for missing the world cup… It is stupid to sack Mancini.
Tony, I agree with you 100% yes we will not forget that Mancini won the Euro trophy that Italy dramatically was missing since after winning of 1968, but we will also not forget that he couldn’t take Italy to World Cup in Qatar. So many arrogant choices.
He kept choosing immobile & Belotti despite not delivering. He plays Donnarumma who is having so many issues lately when he has Sirigu on the bench? It is the Italian federation and Mancini to blame on this disaster. Also the Italian teams must start getting penalized if they don’t have at least 50% Italians in their starting 11!!!
Yes he did a great job with the Euros but he is way too stubborn to change. The magic is gone we need to go in a different direction.
After winning the Euro it became impossible for Mancini to be honest with himself as to who should be in this Italy lineup. When he started with this group there was a sense that all positions were up for grabs and under evaluation.
Now, his desire to be loyal to those players and his belief in maintaining the camaraderie from the previous tournament’s success has clouded his judgement.
Balotelli could have helped this situation. As a super-sub he could have worked. He brings what none of the current roster of players has.
Those of you who want to see him go, who would you replace him with?
Allegri would be a disaster, a big backwards step and terrible news for our young talents.
I can’t see Gasparini wanting to leave Atalanta.
Pirlo, De Rossi and Cannavaro are too green.
If Mancini does go, my first choice would be De Zerbi – should he not be able to return to Shahktar. His teams always play a great brand of football, more aggressive and direct than Mancini. He’s also great with young players, both giving them an opportunity and developing them. If not him then perhaps Gattuso.
Until Serie A is at least 55% Italian this will continue to happen.
Replacing Mancini is a mistake. He should continue. It’s not like they’re being outplayed or being dominated. He has to find a solution to the lack of goals. He keeps starting Immobile. It’s a mistake when the opponent plays 10 men defense.
Start preparing for the Nations League games in June. Win the 4 games scheduled and the world will make sense again. 🙂
4 June Italy vs Germany
7 June Italy vs Hungary
11 June England vs Italy
14 June Germany vs Italy
Mancini has let italy has let italy down this time for underestimating N.Macedonia
Not bringing zaniolo, Balotelli en Sensi you could see that.
He should resign.
It’s not just this match. Italy failed to qualify from a group in which they were clear favorites.
Then they had a 2nd chance and failed miserably.
The fans won’t forget Euro 2020 but now he needs to take the blame and leave.
Wow…i can’t believe people don’t want to hold Mancini accountable for his terrible decisions over the last 8 months. Rigid tactics, refusing to stay progressive and refresh the lineup, ignoring in form players, and blind devotion to Jorginho and Emerson.
He needs to go. He’s shown his true colors as a manager. He is lost and needs replaced.
Bruno, I’d take Italiano, De Zerbi or even Ancelotti.
Rumours have said Pioli. They he isn’t young, he’s proven to be incredible at developing the young squad at Milan. Which has no winners in it. Would be shocked to see him leave the project though.
So many of you are clueless. Italy was supposed to win Macedonia. You can’t expect a coach to just pick new players who have not played with NT before, that he has not had enough time to evaluate with the NT to just suddenly be thrown in no matter how good you may think they are. Before careful what you wish for. Mancini is an experienced coach who has brought a positive style of play to the NT. 34-30 shots on goal vs Macedonia and you think that’s Mancini’s fault that the forwards cant even put 1 in???? No matter who you pick for the NT they will have the same problem, Serie does not produce clinical goal scorers. That is the main and “only” issue.
Sticking to loyalty was the downfall of Alf Ramsey after winning the World Cup in 1966. Football is a game of merits and players in form, NOT layalty!
Mancini should remain at his post…He needs more time so he can prepare for the nation’s league