Italy failed to qualify for Qatar FIFA World Cup after they succumbed to a 1-0 home defeat to North Macedonia Azzuri. Coach Roberto Mancini has expressed his deep disappointment.
Just months after lifting the 2020 UEFA European Championship last year, Azzuri were looking to compete for the World Cup title, however, their hopes were demolished by Lions yesterday.
Speaking in the post-match interview, Mancini said they did everything to win.
“Just as the Euros was the most wonderful experience of my life, this was the biggest disappointment,” he said, per the Daily Mail. “We can say nothing, that is football, sometimes incredible things happen and it happened.
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“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.
“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.”
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“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.
Asked if he would stay on his role as Italy manager after this defeat, he said he would see.
“We will see,” Mancini added.
“I think everyone is too disappointed right now to talk about the future.”
“This is a group of fine players and I am sorry for them.”
Sources – Daily Mail, Metro, Eurosport
