Italy coach Roberto Mancini insists that the Azzurri want to win the World Cup, but admits his concern for the fitness of his defenders, insisting that Gigio Donnarumma is not a problem.
Mancini faced the media at Coverciano today for his first press conference in the international break. Before discussing the form of players available for the next games, he explained why he omitted Mario Balotelli from the team.
The Azzurri will face North Macedonia in the play-offs semi-finals on March 24 before potentially meeting Turkey or Portugal in the Final five days later.
“We should not take the first game for granted. It won’t be easy and, in case we win, we’ll have four days to prepare for the Final,” Mancini said.
“We have built a solid base, we are positive and we must think that everything will go well. We have two tough games ahead. We were not supposed to be here, but it happens to struggle sometimes.
“We must continue playing as we’ve always done. We didn’t reach our targets by coincidence. We didn’t want to play these games, but the lads are feeling well and that’s important.”
Italy ended their qualification group in second place behind Switzerland, only a few months after winning the Euros.
“Our target is to win the World Cup, and in order to do it, we must win the next two games. We want to go to the World Cup to win it,” the coach continued.
Lorenzo Insigne and Nicolò Barella looked exhausted in their last few games with Napoli and Inter, while Gigio Donnarumma hit the headlines with a mistake against Real Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 two weeks ago.
Italy to face World Cup play-offs semis without Euro 2020 defence
“I am not worried, they [Insigne and Barella] have always done well with the national team,” said Mancini.
“Of course, there are highs and lows during a season. Chiellini is feeling quite well and it’s good that he played a little. Probably, he won’t play two games, but we’ll talk and decide together. He knows his condition and he will tell me if he can play two games in five days.
“Worries about Donnarumma? Absolutely not, it’s better to have him with us than against.
“I am optimistic because I have players who won the Euros starting from nothing when nobody believed in it. We must think about what we did to have more self-confidence, the team is solid and with quality.
“Berardi and Scamacca are doing well, but I can’t reveal the line-up today. We’ll make our assessments starting from tomorrow. Except for defenders, the others are feeling quite well. I don’t think there are big problems in midfield and attack.”
Most of the starting defenders who played the Euros won’t be available for the match against North Macedonia on Thursday. Leonardo Bonucci is currently on the sidelines with a calf injury but could recover for the Final. Giovanni Di Lorenzo is out following an injury suffered against Udinese on Saturday. Giorgio Chiellini played 45 minutes against Salernitana on Sunday, but it remains to be seen if he’ll be able to play both games after remaining out of action for over a month due to a calf injury.
That’s the way to be. Positive and not negative. Just play well, fast football and must not slow down the game. Get the goals in order to get to the final and then we will wait and see.
I bet he’ll still choose Immobile instead of Scamacca
which will be a mistake,
he should be combining Berardi and Scamacca
I agree Ciro has been poor for the Azzurri we haven’t the time to wait for him to hit the back of net about once every 5 to 6 games if your lucky,
He was also nowhere to be seen in the Roma defeat
his Lazio form is not that great either
Agree that Scamacca is the hot hand and it is his turn, but maybe not the best to start him. Let Ciro, who has done this all before, start the game. With his former Pescara mates Insigne and Verratti, Italy should get that first goal fairly quickly. Then, absolutely, it is time to bring in Scamacca so he can show his stuff without all that pressure. Putting the weight of missing two consecutive world cups on a kid with a couple of caps is something they will want to avoid.
They need to get back to the pressing they did just before euro began and in group stages. They got away from that style after they won and looked so awful. Prior to euro they were smashing teams 3-0 4-0 .
Kudos to you Tonino.
You are always thinking Positive.
Immobile is washed up , consistency and form is not his strength especially with the Azzurri, time to give Berradi and scamaca and maybe Jao more game time .
Need to start players who have the experience of big pressure games. Im worried of a Bastoni- Acerbi duo and would rather see Chiellini in game one at the very least with the hope that Bonucci can play in a final in Portugal.
Offensively Id start Ciro, Berardi & Insigne. Score quickly hopefuly and let some of the subs come in at the 50-60minute mark.