Football Fans Blame Italy’s World Cup Miss on Balotelli’s Absence From the Azzurri

• Reigning European champions Italy will miss back-to-back World Cups for the first time in their history following their shock play-off loss to North Macedonia
• The four-time World champions fell to a 1-0 loss to minnows North Macedonia at the Stadio Renzo Barbera
• The disappointing results mean Italy will not be at the 2022 World Cup which football fans have levelled the blame on Roberto Mancini for axing Mario Balotelli from his squad

Football fans have identified the absence of Mario Balotelli from the Italy national team as the main reason why the Azzurri failed to go past North Macedonia in the World Cup play-offs.

The maverick striker has been a long-term absentee from the Azzurri camp and following Italy's inability to score goals, football fans reasoned Roberto Mancini might include Balotelli in his squad for the crunch play-offs.

However, the former Manchester City and Inter Milan trainer opted against the decision to bring back Balotelli rather going in for Cagliari's Brazilian-born Joao Pedro in his 33-man squad for the play-offs.

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Despite attempting 32 shots, Mancini's blunt attack failed to find the opening as Aleksandar Trajkovski scored a last-gasp goal to end Italy's World Cup ambitions.

The shocking results mean Italy will not be at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar, and football fans on Twitter have not spared Mancini for leading this calamity.

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Balotelli missing as Roberto Mancini announces squad for World Cup play-offs

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that the Manager of the Italian men's national team, Roberto Mancini has omitted striker Mario Balotelli from his list to fight for the World Cup slot.

Balotelli earlier returned to the national team after a four-year absence when Mancini named the maverick striker for three-day camping as the European champions prepared for the final hurdle in the World Cup qualifiers.

However, it appears the former Inter Milan and Manchester City manager was not impressed with the 31-year-old forward snubbing him in his final squad for the all-important assignment.