Mancini off the mark after Italy’s narrow win vs Poles
Roberto Mancini got his first competitive win as Italy’s journey back from the abyss of their World Cup qualifying failure began to take shape with a last-gasp 1-0 win over Poland in the Nations League.
It was the first competitive win for the four-time world champions since a 1-0 victory over Albania in World Cup qualifiers on October 9, 2017.
That was followed by the devastating failure to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 60 years after a playoff defeat to Sweden at the San Siro in November last year.
Italian football has been in turmoil ever since. Although Mancini took over last May, the Italian football federation is still to elect a new president.
It was perhaps not surprising that Cristiano Biraghi’s lastgasp winner in Chorzow on Sunday night was celebrated as if the national side had won the tournament. Despite Mancini’s insistence that it would not be a drama if Italy lost the match, the League A Group 3 clash was a relegation playoff, with Poland dropping to League B.
“The salvation of Italy and the turning point for Mancini,” wrote La Repubblica, hailing the win as a “birth certificate for a new national side.”
Former Manchester City boss
CHORZOW,POLAND:
Mancini’s only success since taking over five months ago was a 2-1 win in a friendly against Saudi Arabia before the World Cup. “A new cycle has already begun,” said the 53-year-old former Italian international.
“We’ll go with pride to see the president of the republic,” he added of Monday’s meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Rome to mark the 120th anniversary of the Italian FA.
“All of Italian football will be there, it’s important to go with a morale-boosting win like yesterday and for this we are proud,” said Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) president Giovanni Malago. “I see a new generation of young Italians emerging. In recent years there has been a lack of foresight.”
The result ensures Italy stayed in the top tier ahead of December’s draw for Euro 2020 qualifying, and can still win their Nations League group.
It also gives the Azzurri a boost as they prepare to host Portugal in the San Siro on November 17 -- just over a year after they lost their World Cup playoff to Sweden at the same stadium.
Portugal have six points from two games, with Italy on four points after three games with Poland relegated to League B.