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Italy's national coach Roberto Mancini is under criticism after the 2: 5 against Germany
Photo:
Friedemann Vogel / EPO
Actually, three months after missing out on qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar, European champions Italy thought they were on the right track with new coach Roberto Mancini – but then came the Nations League second leg against Germany. The embarrassing 2:5 (0:2) caused dismay again at home. The Italian press comments on the defeat:
»La Gazzetta dello Sport«
: »Italy, what a disgrace!
Nightmare match against Germany.
Italy loses at the end of a game in which the squadra never became really dangerous.
The only consolation for Coach Mancini is the youngster Gnonto, who scores as the youngest national player ever.«
»Tuttosport«:
»A blue disaster!
Five steps back (...) A devastating Germany sinks the pale Mancini troops.
Italy suffer a momentous, painful defeat at the end of a one-sided game in which Germany dominated all the way.
The only positive news of the evening was Gnonto's first goal for the national team.«
»Corriere dello Sport«
: »No apologies for Mancini!
Italy has fallen to Germany's sparring partner.
The coach is risking too much, using nine new players compared to the side who easily beat Hungary and drew with England.
The experiment failed miserably as a test for a new phase.«
»La Repubblica«:
»Borussia Park has become an amusement park for the Germans.
The Italy national team's painful season, suffering their second World Cup elimination, ended in humiliation, one of the worst in the Azzurri's history.
Mancini loses his status as a strategist after scoring eight goals against Argentina and Germany."
»Corriere della Sera«
: »Too many experiments, Mancini sends young players to the front and loses all the way.
Now it's time for the coach to finally reveal what he thinks about his future.
He has recently used a good 40 players and made radical decisions against prominent players - without results.
We conceded eight goals against Argentina and Germany.
It can not go on like this."
»La Stampa«
: »Italy is crumbling.
The national team is overrun by Germany.
The difference in class and experience is far too great.«
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