2022 World Cup: Italy Coach Roberto Mancini Speaks Out After European Champions Stumble to Shock Loss

2022 World Cup: Italy Coach Roberto Mancini Speaks Out After European Champions Stumble to Shock Loss

Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:58 PM
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  • Roberto Mancini has opened up after Italy suffered a shock loss to North Macedonia to end their World Cup dreams
  • The European champions were aiming to return to the global showpiece after missing out on the last edition but were dealt a soccer punch by the minnows
  • A late strike from Aleksandar Trajkovski was more than enough to send North Macedonia to the World Cup play-offs finals, where they will play against Portugal

Head coach of Italy Roberto Mancini has described the shock loss to minnows North Macedonia as the biggest disappointment in his coaching career.

The former Inter Milan and Manchester City trainer led the Azzurri to a famous triumph at the 2020 Euros and went on a stretch of over 30 games without tasting defeat.

However, things fell apart after the Euro triumph with Mancini's side failing to secure automatic qualification for the World Cup.

2022 World Cup, Italy, Coach, Roberto Mancini, European Champions, Stumble, Shock, Loss, North Macedonia
Italy coach Roberto Mancini has described the European Champions' shocking loss to North Macedonia as the biggest disappointment in his coaching career. Photo credit:@Azzurri_En
Source: Twitter

With an outlet in the play-offs, the four-time World champions knew they had to beat the less fancied North Macedonia before navigating past Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

But what was supposed to be a jolly ride turned out to be a nightmare for the Italians as a late goal from North Macedonia ended their hopes of returning to the Mundial.

Italy's disappointing loss means they will miss back-to-back World Cups after they missed out on Russia 2018.

Summarizing the disappointing nature of the defeat, Italy boss Roberto Mancini said:

"The victory in the Euros was the most wonderful moment of my career. What happened this evening is my biggest disappointment."
"There's too much disappointment to talk about the future right now. I really feel for the players. On a human level, my affection for them has grown even more after this evening."

Italy stumble to shock defeat as reigning European champions miss out on World Cup again

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that reigning European champions Italy will miss a second straight World Cup after losing to a dramatic stoppage-time goal against North Macedonia on Thursday, but Portugal, Wales and Sweden all made it through to qualifying play-off deciders.

Four-time World Cup winners Italy were stunned in Palermo as Aleksandar Trajkovski -- who used to play club football in the Sicilian city -- fired past Gianluigi Donnarumma from range in the second minute of injury time to give North Macedonia an incredible 1-0 victory.

There was no time after that for Italy to recover and they will again be absent from the World Cup in Qatar after also failing to qualify for the 2018 tournament in Russia when they lost in a play-off to Sweden.

Authors
Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe photo
Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe
Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe is a Ligue 1, Bundesliga, and La Liga editor with five-year experience. He previously worked with Sports Corna and 360SportsGH.
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