Italy CT Roberto Mancini admitted it ‘could have been a better’ draw for the Azzurri, but stressed they are ‘confident and positive’ ahead of the World Cup 2022 play-offs in March.
The Azzurri are drawn North Macedonia at home in the semi-final of the play-off and will play the winner of Turkey or Portugal away in the Final.
Italy are thus facing a tough task to book a place at Qatar 2022, and Mancini admitted it was a difficult draw for the Nazionale.
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“It could have been a little better, that’s true,” Mancini told RAI2. “It’s clear that both us and Portugal have to beat Macedonia and Turkey.
“It’s one leg, which always provides difficulties. We are confident and positive, especially in the slightly more difficult moments.”
The first match is at home against North Macedonia and will be played in Rome.
“We had a great qualifying group. Even against Switzerland we deserved to win and yet we didn’t,” Mancini said. “We’ll have to play a great match, then we’ll see in the Final.”
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“We would have gladly avoided them and they would probably want to avoid us too,” Mancini continued. “We will play a possible Final against them.”
Joao Pedro has been linked with a possible call-up by the Italian national team, but Mancini didn’t want to reveal anything.
“It’s such a recent thing, we’ll see,” he said. “We have good players.
“Joao Pedro is an excellent striker, he knows Italian football. But let’s not forget what the lads did four months ago.”
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Mancini guided the Azzurri all the way in the European Championship over the summer and hopes to see the same performances in March.
“Those spells are only found in those moments there, when you are together for a while,” he said. “It will be important to have all the players available.”
Jorginho missed two decisive penalty against Switzerland and there has been a discussion about who should get the responsibility next time, but Mancini was coy when asked who will take the next penalty for the Azzurri.
“We hope they’ll give it to us.”