Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina has backed Roberto Mancini and hopes that the manager will stay in his post despite the Azzurri crashing out of World Cup qualifying.
The European champions were heavy favourites to beat North Macedonia in Palermo, which would have set-up a play-off decider against Portugal with a place in Qatar on offer to the victor. But for all of their dominance on the night, Italy were dumped out when Aleksandar Trajkovski scored a dramatic injury-time winner.
The shock defeat comes less than a year after lifting the European Championship, with Mancini’s side beating England on penalties in the Wembley final. In the immediate aftermath of the trophy lift, the former Man City boss was handed a new contract, ensuring he would stay in the post until at least 2026.
