The Italian team received a shower of criticism on Tuesday after failing to qualify directly for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
From the sports press to former coaches like Arrigo Sacchi, The selection of Italy received a shower of criticism on Tuesday after failing to qualify directly for the Qatar 2022 World Cup and to be forced to look for the ticket in the delicate repechage of March.
“What a nightmare”, “On the tight rope”, “Another Italy is necessary” are some of the headlines that made the front pages of the Italian press this Tuesday, after the lackluster 0-0 against Northern Ireland that prevented Roberto Mancini’s men from maintaining the top position in group C.
The Gazzetta dello Sport highlights that the play-off is “between Italy and the World Cup” again, as it happened four years ago, when the Azzurri they surrendered to Sweden and missed a World Cup for the first time in the previous sixty years.
Corriere dello Sport defines “correct” the verdict of group C and criticizes an Italy that created “few chances to score” against a Northern Ireland that had no particular objectives to achieve.
The Roman newspaper warns of the dangers involved in being measured in the repechage, organized with semifinals and final, with teams such as Poland, Russia or the Swedish national team, the executioner of Italy in 2017.
And is that criticism of Italy They also came from Arrigo Sacchi, the coach at the 1994 World Cup, when the azzurri they lost the final on penalties against Brazil.
“We are tired and a little arrogant. Now you have to keep your feet on the ground, “Sacchi said in an interview with The Gazzetta dello Sport.
Of course, Mancini tried to calm the atmosphere by expressing his “total confidence” about the fact that Italy will end up qualifying for the World Cup and went so far as to say that “perhaps” they will conquer their fifth title.
Four-time world champions (1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006), Italy could miss their second consecutive World Cup, after their previous two appearances ended in a group stage elimination. (D)
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