Arrigo Sacchi believes the Italy performance against Switzerland was ‘a betrayal of Roberto Mancini’s ideas’ and hopes they have shaken off ‘complacency’ for the Northern Ireland decider.

It kicks off in Belfast on Monday at 19.45 GMT, with the Azzurri joint top of the group alongside Switzerland, ahead only on goal difference.

They had the chance to break away with a last-gasp penalty against Switzerland, but Jorginho blazed it over the bar, leaving the result at 1-1.

“Perhaps the Azzurri had made us feel too comfortable, because the team went onto the pitch against Switzerland visibly tense,” wrote former Italy coach Sacchi in the Gazzetta dello Sport.

“We hope Italy haven’t fallen into the trap of success, which means thinking yourself unbeatable regardless of effort.

“Italian teams, in general, have always given their best when fearing the opponent or struggling.”

Sacchi was particularly annoyed with the sluggish early approach, which saw Silvan Widmer open the scoring for Switzerland at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo cancelled it out with a header on a well-worked Lorenzo Insigne free kick.

“The Azzurri, especially in the first half, put in a performance that was a betrayal of Roberto Mancini’s ideas.

“We saw them dominate in the second half, but the scoring opportunities were still few and far between. Sandro Tonali and Domenico Berardi made an important impact off the bench, as Berardi was perhaps the only one of the strikers who really caused problems for the Swiss defence.

“It won’t be easy against Northern Ireland, but Mancini has given this team a style of football and some ideas that we’ve rarely seen in our game.”

Italy set a new all-time world record by going unbeaten for 37 games, during which they won UEFA EURO 2020.

5 thought on “Sacchi: ‘Italy performance a betrayal of Mancini’s ideas’”
  1. Beating England and lifting a trophy in the Limey National Stadium to the delight of the world will never be cancelled. That explains the presence of the tea-drinking Limey inposter above.

  2. Sacchi is correct that it’s on the players.

    Mancini had done his best all last week to transmit calm to the players and it inadvertently had the reverse effect. Italy needed to be on edge and play desperate. Instead a different nervousness set in maybe complacency.

    If they set out with a mindwet to score 1 goal in each half it may be enough.

    I do wonder if during the match, they are told the Result of Switzerland vs Bulgaria.

  3. 2 goals ….are you delusional….Switzerland will put up at least 4 against a for all intents and purposes is a Soviet -bloc ( subject to bribes) country that has no pride ,let alone any incentive to win on the road .

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