"Against Switzerland we suffered a little anxiety: tomorrow, against Northern Ireland there will be pressure but we must avoid anxiety".
Roberto Mancini's Italy reached the decisive 90 minutes to qualify for the World Cup directly
, avoiding the playoffs, and the coach identifies the psychological component as the primary reason for the difficulties. "Barella is recovered - said Mancini in the exclusive Rai flash interwiew - he is even better than with Switzerland. Tonali? He has grown a lot, he could play from the beginning". Finally, the choices of attack. "It doesn't matter if he plays a fake or a true nine: mentality counts".
"At the European Championship we were a group with a particular spirit: we have to find it", said
Leonardo Bonucci, Italian captain, at the conference on the eve of Northern Ireland-Italy, in Belfast
.
"Nobody will be able to cancel what this magnificent team has done - added the defender - but we have to find that balance, that lightheartedness, that desire to help us. And do it to the nth degree".
As for the penalty takers, "I will not be the first tomorrow: everything remains as before, then in case we will see ..".