World Cup: Mancini 'Playoff? Let's avoid Portugal '

 "If we arrive in March and we are without injuries, we can meet anyone. If we really want to remove one I would say Portugal": said the national team coach Roberto Mancini talking about the possible challengers of Italy in the play off for the qualification for the World Cup in Qatar. during the presentation of Marino Bartoletti's book "The Return of the Gods" at the Social Football Summit in Rome. 

"It is a special day, we hoped to be already qualified for the World Cup, but we must know how to accept the verdict of the field. We will play it because we still have the chances", explains the blue coach.

"It's a bad period, but I continue to be very confident. If there was a time when things weren't going to go well, better now than in March or at the World Cup."

The coach therefore does not lose hope in view of the play-offs because "the team is excellent and did not win a European championship by chance: we also deserved it by beating stronger teams".