Italy out of the World Cup. Yet. After the failure of the Ventura management where the Azzurri were eliminated in the play-offs by Sweden, the arrival of Mancini seemed to have reversed the course. A European won a few months ago, 37 games without defeat. But maybe it was just a mistake. Italy, after the magical night of Wembley on 11 July last, was no longer able to win (just with Lithuania). And here, four and a half years after that night in mid-November 2017, the nightmare has rematerialized. This time in the form of North Macedonia .
Italy out of the World Cup, Mancini's mistakes
Mancini's mistake, perhaps, was not wanting to change . To give more space to young people with more hunger. Immobile , number 9, promptly disappears on important occasions. Insigne is now with his head overseas. Berardi is still Berardi, a good player who at 27 is firm in his dimension, Sassuolo. The only one able to change pace – the Church – unfortunately Mancini lost it. Behind them almost nothing. Relying on Joao Pedro, never called up before, in the final minutes of the most important match, was the move of desperation. Why were Scamacca and Zaniolo in the stands?
Midfield Chapter. Jorginho, Verratti and Barella. Excellent, but few goals, few. Especially the first two. A Lorenzo Pellegrini (11 goals this year) perhaps no longer deserved consideration? Couldn't Frattesi and Tonali help out?
With whom to leave?
The new blue chapter will inevitably have to be opened with important "cuts". Also risky. Whether it will be Roberto Mancini or someone else who will have to do them, perhaps it is still too early to know. But starting with this group would be a gamble. The coach will have time to build the new Italy that will have to defend the title in Germany in 2024. Yes, the land of the last World Cup.
Source: Blitz Quotidiano