Summer is already far away for Italy.
The title of European champion is only a line written on a yellowed page.
In Belfast, Monday evening, the players of Roberto Mancini, held in check by Northern Ireland (0-0) have complicated the task for the World Cup in Qatar in a year (November 21 to December 18, 2022).
The Squadra Azzura, capped on the post in Group C by Switzerland, which swept Bulgaria (4-0), will indeed have to go through new version dams, next March, to hope to participate.
This did not prevent the coach from showing confidence.
"We struggled to score, although we had the game in hand," said Roberto Mancini. It's a shame because the group should have been concluded before this match. We just have to find what has distinguished us until today, and think that we missed two penalties in decisive matches (Editor's note: against Switzerland). When you don't mark the opportunities you have, you can clearly find yourself in trouble. We must recover forces for (the dams in) March. If we will go to the World Cup? I'm totally confident, and maybe we'll even win it ... "
By March, the date of the dams, Italy may tremble when thinking about the trauma of November 2017: this dam lost against Sweden (0-1, 0-0), depriving it of the World Cup for the first time for 60 years, an apocalypse for a generation of tifosi.
Sweden, which also finished second in its group, is also one of the opponents that Italy could find on its way, with other possible big customers (Portugal, Poland, Russia ...).
Dams raised
Because the dams for Qatar will innovate. The teams concerned will not face each other in a two-way duel as before. They will have to go through a mini tournament. Twelve teams will compete for the last three remaining places in the Europe zone. To win the precious sesame, it will therefore be necessary to eliminate two opponents. These 12 teams will be divided into three groups (A, B, C) following the draw which will take place in Zurich on November 26. They will face each other in semi-finals then a final in dry matches. Only the three winners of these finals will go to Qatar. The semi-finals will be played on March 24 or 25, 2022 and the finals in stride, on March 28 or 29.
The qualified teams are the ten best runners-up from each qualifying group. We already know seven: Italy, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Sweden, Poland and North Macedonia. The last will be known this Monday and Tuesday at the end of the last group matches. In Group G, still very open, it will be played between Turkey, Norway and the Netherlands. In Group C, that of France, Finland and Ukraine can still qualify. Finally in Group E, behind qualified Belgium, Wales and the Czech Republic are neck and neck. To these ten nations, there will be added the two best countries of the last League of Nations which failed to secure their ticket via direct qualifying. Austria is sure to be there.The other place will be played between the Czech Republic and Wales.
The draw will therefore be crucial for Roberto Mancini's men.