COVERCIANO (Florence). A trio of matches to try to immediately secure the qualification for the 2022 World Cup. A goal not to be missed after the exclusion from the kermesse in Russia in 2018. Roberto Mancini’s national team is expected on Thursday from the match against Northern Ireland , the first stage of a path that will have to bring the Azzurri to Qatar. But first (in June) there will be the Europeans and Italy who will play the first three games at home. The goal is to try to win an event that hasn’t seen us get on the top step of the podium since 1968.
The first obstacle. «Thursday’s match will be the most complicated – said the coach yesterday – because we play after five months. It is not easy to face Northern Ireland, they are physically strong because they all play in the Premier League. We must think that we cannot go wrong and do our best. I would like to find the team of the last few races, with that desire and that unityZ. Mancini hopes to have Inter players (Barella, Bastoni and Sensi) available, in solitary confinement in Milan after the positive cases recorded in the team group. “We are waiting to understand what will happen, it seems to me that they are free and that the foreigners have already left for the various destinations – explained the technical commissioner -, so we are waiting”.
Future. Mancini’s renewal is a hot topic. But he dismisses it with two words: “I talked about it with Gravina, it could happen before or after the European Championships, it doesn’t change much.” The blue group is more or less formed. «The doors are still open – Mancini -. The list of 23 is almost done, but who knows that one or two cannot change ». One of these could be the Atalantine Toloi. «He plays in a team that makes a lot of advance and preventive scoring, I don’t think he will have great difficulties. I called him because I need to know him, it is the last call-up before the Europeans. If he were to fit well, he could be part of our group knowing how to play in all defense roles. We follow Zaniolo, we will evaluate when he will be back in the team. We make a thought but we cannot risk it, if he is ready we will evaluate him ».
Triptych. After Thursday’s match against Northern Ireland in Parma, the Azzurri will play in Bulgaria on Sunday and three days later in Lithuania. Close commitments that will require a planned turnover to dose the energies. In attack Mancini already announces it: «The idea is to let Immobile, Belotti and Caputo play each other. We would have liked Scammacca, but there is the Under 21 team ». The goal is to start the journey with a convincing victory. (r.m.)