"To finish with nine points would be excellent: we had three games in a few days, with many trips. The pitfall is the synthetic pitch".
Roberto Mancini, Italian coach, says so on the eve of Lithuania-Italy, the third qualifying match for the 2022 World Cup. Mancini now has 24 consecutive useful results, one less than Marcello Lippi's record.
"Unfortunately some players had physical problems before, and with so many games we preferred not to risk", added Mancini, who yesterday also had to give up Verratti and Florenzi.
"The pitfalls - explained Mancini on the eve of the match - are those of the pitch, because we are not used to this pitch but we have two days to do it, but also a Lithuania that will be very closed and will not give us many spaces. a very physical team that defends well and play at home, then said Mancini "Switzerland has had many opportunities - the words of the coach - but they only won 1-0 and this confirms that the games are all difficult especially when it comes to the third".
"Toloi's debut possible"
- Atalanta defender Rafael Toloi could make his blue debut against Lithuania.
"There is this possibility - explains coach Roberto Mancini - he was with us for a week and we got to know each other better".
The coach is not unbalanced on the formation that he will take to the field in Vilnius, but he gives some indications: "The idea of Bernardeschi false nine is always current. We are evaluating the conditions of Immobile and Belotti, we will decide tomorrow morning. Insigne? He played two games. whole, very tiring, we will evaluate whether to use it ".
Federico Chiesa could also be part of the match: "he could play. I'm not so negative about his performances - Mancini said -. He's fine and arouses a lot of fear in his opponents. He's a very important player for us".
Olympic? I hope everything is ok before June
- Italy coach Roberto Mancini hopes for a European match with the fans at the Olympics.
"Why hasn't an okay been given to the public in June yet? I don't know this - says the coach, on the eve of Lithuania-Italy - I hope things are okay but not for June, even earlier".