Roberto Mancini is coy over his future as Italy manager after their humiliating World Cup play-off defeat by North Macedonia… as he bemoans ‘bad luck’ for missing out on a place in Qatar
- Italy were dumped out World Cup play-offs after 1-0 defeat by North Macedonia
- Azzurri dominated game with 32 shots on goal but only five were on target
- Roberto Mancini blamed bad luck for Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup
- Mancini led Italy to Euro 2020 success last summer but is coy on future
Roberto Mancini has lamented Italy’s bad luck for their shock World Cup play-off defeat by North Macedonia, before remaining coy on his future.
The Azzurri were dumped out of the play-off semi-finals in Palermo on Thursday night after conceding a stoppage time winner courtesy of an Aleksandar Trajkovski strike.
Italy had largely dominated the encounter but only five of their 32 shots were on target and they will now miss the World Cup finals for the second tournament in succession.
Roberto Mancini refused to talk about his future after Italy’s shock defeat by North Macedonia
When asked if he would continue in his role after failing to qualify, Mancini said: ‘We will see. I think everyone is too disappointed right now to talk about the future.’
Italy had looked on course to qualify as group winners before stumbling to four draws in their last five games to be pipped to top spot by Switzerland.
Less than a year after defeating England to win the European Championship and complete a remarkable turnaround having failed to qualify for the previous World Cup in Russia, the Azzurri have now hit rock bottom again.
Italy players react with dejection as they face another shock early World Cup exit
Jorginho was unable to help his Italy side overcome North Macedonia in a play-off semi-final
Mancini though insists it is bad luck rather than a lack of quality that has denied his side qualification for the finals in Qatar this winter.
‘Just as the Euros was the most wonderful experience of my life, this was the biggest disappointment’ he said. ‘We can say nothing, that is football, sometimes incredible things happen and it happened.
‘We shouldn’t have been here in the first place, but we did everything we could to win and it’s hard to even talk about it.
North Macedonia’s famous victory now sets them up with a play-off final with Portugal
‘The victory at the Euros was absolutely deserved, we played great football. Then some of the fortune we had in that tournament turned into total and complete bad luck, as some unbelievable things happened from September onwards.
‘We dominated the group, all we needed was one of those moments to go well, but neither of them did. Tonight, it feels almost as if conceding a goal at the 92nd minute was fitting.
‘This is a group of fine players and I am sorry for them.’
North Macedonia’s victory will now see them take on Portugal for a place in the World Cup finals on Tuesday.