After losing to North Macedonia and failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, Italy veteran Giorgio Chiellini said his teammates were “destroyed and crushed.”
After failing to qualify for Russia 2018, the European champions will miss their second World Cup in a row.
In Palermo, Aleksandar Trajkovski’s injury time winner elicited conflicting emotions of elation and grief.
From Mancini’s “greatest delight” to his “worst disappointment,”
With a victory over England in the Euro 2020 final in July, Italy manager Roberto Mancini led his country to European triumph, a career pinnacle for a manager whose squad had been considered outsiders heading into the tournament.
However, after a patchy campaign, the Azzurri finished second to Switzerland in their qualifying group, and defeat in the play-off against North Macedonia means the European champions will have to wait at least 12 years to compete in football’s showpiece event.
“I experienced my greatest delight this summer, and now is my greatest disappointment,” Mancini remarked.
“It’s difficult to express myself.”
I feel terrible for the players.
It’s a team that has performed admirably and deservedly won the Euros last summer.
I’m sorry they won’t be able to attend the World Cup for the second time.
” That’s how football works.
When you lose, you have no choice except to suffer and keep silent since there is nothing else you can do.
It’s impossible to make a judgment on a game in which we fired 32 shots on goal without scoring and conceded a goal in the 92nd minute.
That’s the way things are.
“The players have a bright future ahead of them; they are talented and have a place in the national team.”
It’s a trying time right now, and it’ll get even tougher in the coming days. It’s a rule in football.”
In response to a question on his own future, Mancini added: “It is premature to speculate about the future at this time.
“We still have to process this loss.” ”
On a personal level, I can say that I adore these men much more tonight than I did in July following their victory.
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There is a huge sense of disappointment.”
Jorginho, a Chelsea midfielder from Italy, admitted some blame for the result, saying: “It’s a big letdown.
It’s excruciatingly painful.
I believe we played well since we dominated and controlled the game, but we were unable to complete it.
It’s not that anyone is to blame; it’s just the way things are.
Marco Verratti, an Italian midfielder, added: “It’s difficult to comprehend what occurred since it’s such a letdown.
In extra time, their goal was a complete nightmare.
This team had a fantastic opportunity at the World Cup, so what occurred tonight is difficult to accept.
We all know we’ve given our all; now is the time to ask ourselves some tough questions.”
After Czechoslovakia, Denmark, and Greece, Italy has become only the fourth team to win the Euros and subsequently fail to qualify for the next World Cup, following Czechoslovakia, Denmark, and Greece.
