Italy coach Roberto Mancini said it was ‘too easy’ to win the Euros, so the Azzurri now need to suffer a little to qualify for the World Cup.
The Italian coach attended an event in Roma this morning and provided a quick update about La Nazionale’s situation ahead of Qatar 2022.
Italy failed to win their qualification group, meaning they must qualify for the tournament going through the play-offs.
They’ve been paired with North Macedonia in the play-offs and could meet Turkey or Portugal in the Final.
“The lads were excellent during the Euros. They immediately felt at ease. We needed a bit of luck, but the alchemy was amazing,” he said.
“Everything was too easy during the Euros,” he said smiling, “we needed to suffer a little.”
The Azzurri will host North Macedonia at the Stadio Barbera in Palermo on March 24.
The potential Final is scheduled for March 29.
Mancini’s contract with Italy runs until 2026, but he has recently suggested that his future in the Azzurri dug-out depends on the Azzurri’s qualification to the World Cup.
Mondiale a rischio? Mancini scherza: "In estate tutto facile, ci voleva un po' di sofferenza…" https://t.co/IBgpxStQKF
— TUTTOmercatoWEB (@TuttoMercatoWeb) December 20, 2021
At the Euros the players worked dam hard and the majority of them gave 100% which made it look easier
In qualification after the euros majority of the players only put in about 75% effort into the last 4 games
because if the had given the same effort as the Euros they would’ve qualified by winning the group
if italy fail again it will be truly the end of something.,, like kinda the unforgiving feelings and emotions in a divorce. I’d feel as though all the pride and prestige would be worthless and no longer carry valor or honor. calcio would be just some silly game, which id grow out of the enjoyment of watching or caring for, since even my playing days (indoor recreational) are about over.
When you’re an arrogant idiot who fails to do the basics right, you end up in the mess of qualifiers and a potential premature exit from the WC.
Jorginho has been sucking at penalties for so many months now, he even missed in the final. Who cares what he does at Chelsea? When it’s a crucial game, let the most experienced penalty-taker shoulder the responsibility. Not to mention the misses which cost 2 match wins.
Hope he’s just putting on a brave face for the crowd with these words.
After the NI match he said that “things were said in the dressing room and they will remain there”.
No doubt he tore a strip into the players.
Don’t know what to think of these Playoffs anymore. 3rd Week of March, maybe Di Lorenzo has to “accidentally” tackle Elmas in a Napoli training session. Just joking, of course.
Sometimes I think we’re qualifying, other times you look at what some Portuguese players are doing and you think they are. Or that Turkey are.
Was happy too see that Scamacca scored again this past weekend. Keep an eye out Davide Frattesi as well. Not sure if he will play in the Playoff but I’m sure he will feature in the Nations League.
Can’t really blame Mancio THAT much.
If the team were on such an Undefeated streak, why would he change things up? If he did and we failed, then he’d get criticized for doing so. Stand pat, not win (ie; keep Drawing matches), which is what happened, and he gets criticized for that as well. He was in a no-win situation.
It’s on the players for not getting the job done. How that 1st Half if Basel played out there is no excuse why it couldn’t have been 0-2 at HT.
Seriously, 1-1 versus Bulgaria? In Florence? Chances created, sure, but those have to be converted.
Also. Not sure if Portugal will make drastic changes and things can change in March but Beto of Udinese has been doing well lately. Though I LOL’d at that missed 1vs1 against Milan last weekend.
FORZA AZZURRI
Sad again to put italy on waiting list and all is on mancini shoulders he was the reason of all what happened not mentioned the wrong choices of mid and attacking players and so ignoring some of like politano and ptagna or scamacca and also he failed to notice that insgne never been good when spinazzola injured at the end wish my beloved azzuri make it 2 world cup
The stupid pathetic Nations league is to blame.
We played well against Spain with 10 men then beat the Belgium team ranked so highly.
Those two games were played while we could have had a round of qualifying, with that form we would have taken 6 points.
The nations league is a stupid distraction that has stopped us qualifying.
We won’t beat Portugal or Turkey away from home that’s a fact
.
You really think FIFA wants to go to WC in QATAR without the best player in the world. That is bad for business, in which is what international soccer has become.
Final outcome of playoffs already known….at least in that grouping.
Lets try to win our game first and then we will see who we meet. The negativity from you guys is unbelievable. I would have hated if you guys were in my team. We might as well not turn up the way you are. Please be positive.
So we should sugarcoat things, Tonino?
Be positive for the sake of it and not call out deficiencies to improve? If we were to do that, then we’d never qualify.
Let me add, the right amount of pressure and criticism has historically served us well.
We won Euro 2020. Great. Time to move on and win 2 matches in March of 2022.
Well said Tonino. Mancio and Italy must focus on N Macedonia then see whats what and take it on.