What now for Italy after catastrophe of missing second World Cup in a row?

Though manager Roberto Mancini took blame for defeat by North Macedonia, there are emerging talents to build on

Italy's manager Roberto Mancini stands on the bench during the World Cup qualifying play-off soccer match between Italy and North Macedonia, at Renzo Barbera stadium, in Palermo, Italy, Thursday, March 24, 2022. North Macedonia won 1-0. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

With a swipe of his right boot, Aleksandar Trajkovski sent Italy back in time: to November 2017, their lowest moment, a nightmare that a nation has spent four and a half years trying to escape. Back then, the head of the Italian Football Federation, Carlo Tavecchio, described missing out on a World Cup as an “apocalypse”. What word could describe a repeat of the end of all things?

Roberto Mancini was without answers in the wake of Italy’s 1-0 defeat by North Macedonia on Thursday. He took the blame on himself, but more than once reached for the same phrase as he fielded questions about the match and his future: “I wouldn’t know what to say.”