Roberto Mancini hints Italy will use a False 9 against Northern Ireland to unlock their defence by moving the ball quickly. ‘The lads mustn’t forget everything they’ve achieved’ over the last three years.
It kicks off on Monday at Windsor Park in Belfast at 19.45 GMT.
The Azzurri lead Switzerland only on goal difference, +11 to +9, and only the group winners go directly into the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The runners-up will go through the play-offs, running the risk of missing out on the tournament for the second time in a row.
“We mustn’t think negative thoughts,” said Mancini in his press conference. “We know it’s an important match, we’ll go there aiming to win and know that Northern Ireland are difficult to beat here.
“If we do miss out, then we’ve got the opportunity of a make-up exam in March, but we want to go through tomorrow and that is what we must focus on.”
After the heights of winning UEFA EURO 2020 and setting a new all-time world unbeaten record of 37 games, the mood around the Nazionale has suddenly plummeted and confidence in Mancini’s leadership is ebbing away.
“Nobody believed in us when we started this journey three years ago and we know there have been difficult moments along the way. It’s a delicate match tomorrow, but the lads mustn’t forget everything they have achieved already.
“They mustn’t feel so much anxiety, they have to play with freedom and concentrate on what needs to be done.”
There is some worrying history in Belfast, as Italy have never won here, emerging with two draws and a defeat.
That lone loss was 2-1 in 1958, which saw the Azzurri miss out on qualification for the 1958 World Cup.
“I don’t go back that far, but I do know the history. It’s not an issue of scoring many goals, it’s about playing the game. Northern Ireland haven’t conceded a goal yet at Windsor Park in this group and there must be a reason for that. We have to win and if we score lots of goals that’s even better.”
With so many injuries and Andrea Belotti struggling against Switzerland, will Mancini go for a False 9 with Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Chiesa and Domenico Berardi upfront?
“We certainly won’t go for high balls into the box, as Northern Ireland are rather tall and that’s their bread and butter. We must try to play the ball quickly to feet, what we’ve been doing for the last three years, really.
“All the teams have injuries at the moment, but we remain a strong squad and will aim to get a positive result.”
#Nazionale 🇮🇹
🎥 Le parole del CT Roberto #Mancini in vista del decisivo match contro l’Irlanda del Nord in programma domani 15 novembre allo stadio “Windsor Park” di Belfast alle ore 20.45#NIRITA #WCQ#Azzurri #VivoAzzurro @robymancio pic.twitter.com/IJZ6eP9KSD— Nazionale Italiana ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri) November 14, 2021
Grande Mancio shut up the haters and good see you have shaken off the Allegri catenaccio, now go make us proud.
Absolutely right dangerboy. Mancio is a brilliant coach and we should be proud what he did for us. Forza Italia, make yourselves and the country proud.