Gary Lineker declared Italy have suffered an "almighty and devastating fall" after they failed to reach the 2022 World Cup, just eight months after winning Euro 2020.
The Azzurri were huge favourites to advance to the final qualifying stage but suffered a shocking loss at home to North Macedonia on Thursday night. Jorginho missed a penalty and Aleksandar Trajkovski struck in stoppage time to send the visiting bench into frenzy and leave his nation one victory away from their first ever World Cup appearance.
Italy's defeat means they have not participated at the tournament since 2014 and raises questions of Roberto Mancini 's future as manager. Few would have predicted they would fail to advance from a group containing Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Bulgaria and Lithuania in the wake of their triumph over England at Wembley last summer.
Lineker was one of the many onlookers to comment on Italy's decline on social media and took to Twitter to write: "For Italy to go from being European Champions to not even making the final playoff stage is an almighty and devastating fall." Speculation is already rife about whether Mancini can stay on with the Azzurri in the wake of the dismal loss and reports on the continent claim Fabio Cannavaro - who captained Italy to World Cup glory in 2006 - is the favourite to take over as manager.
Manini provided an uncertain update on his future after the full-time whistle, telling Rai Sport : "We will see. Now I feel too disappointed to speak about my future, we will see. I'm sure this team has a great future. I'm supporting these players now more than ever." The Italy boss continues to have the backing of his skipper, Giorgio Chiellini, who outlined his "hope that Mancini will remain".
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"We're hugely disappointed. We played well but a goal was missing," the Juventus icon said. "I'm proud of my teammates. We're devastated. I hope that Mancini will remain." Chiellini will turn 38 in August and questions have also been raised of his own future with the national team. "This isn't the right time to say if I've played my last game for Italy," he added.
Mancini is under contract until 2026, meaning he is due to take charge of Italy at that year's World Cup in Canada, the United States of America and Mexico. The Italian Football Federation are believed to be reluctant to sack him, so the 57-year-old will be able to make his own decision about whether to stay on or resign from the role. Mancini - a former Manchester City manager - was linked with the Manchester United hot seat late last year.
