Italy switching focus to game of the year against Swiss – Mancini
Roberto Mancini is already targeted on one in every of Italy’s largest video games of the 12 months towards Switzerland subsequent month, after the European champions returned to profitable methods by beating Belgium within the UEFA Nations League on Sunday.
The Azzurri’s world file 37-match unbeaten run ended with a semi-final defeat by Spain, however objectives from Nicolo Barella and Domenico Berardi sealed a 2-1 victory within the third-place playoff.
“They were two great games. Today we changed the players a bit, but despite that the team played just as well,” Mancini instructed a information convention.
The supervisor was fast to look forward to his facet’s subsequent problem, a World Cup qualifier towards the Swiss in Rome on Nov. 12, which can effectively resolve who finishes prime of Group C and earns an computerized qualifying spot.
Switzerland, who misplaced 3-0 to Italy within the group stage of Euro 2020 earlier than drawing 0-0 in final month’s qualifier, will transfer stage on 14 factors with Mancini’s facet with two video games remaining in the event that they beat Lithuania on Tuesday.
“It will be a difficult match, like it was at the Euros and in Basel,” Mancini mentioned.
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“We are playing at home, it will be the game of the year after the Euros matches. We know that we have to win.”
Mancini, who made historical past by reaching his thirtieth win as Italy supervisor in solely 44 matches, opted to make use of Manuel Locatelli as a deep-lying playmaker towards Belgium, a task often occupied by Jorginho, who missed his first Italy sport since May.
“When Jorginho is missing we need to have alternatives. Locatelli has the qualities required to play that role and today he had a great game,” Mancini added.