Mancini not looking past North Macedonia as Italy aim to avoid repeat of 2018 misery
Italy and Portugal are on course to meet in a World Cup qualifying play-off final, but Roberto Mancini is focused only on North Macedonia.
Roberto Mancini says Italy will not look beyond Thursday's play-off semi-final with North Macedonia as they aim to avoid more World Cup qualifying heartbreak.
Italy, then under the management of Gian Piero Ventura, failed to qualify for the last World Cup for the first time since 1958 after losing to Sweden in the play-offs.
The Azzurri bounced back from that disappointment by winning the European Championships last year for only the second time.
Just eight months on from that triumph, Mancini's men are once again relying on the play-offs to help them reach Qatar 2022 after finishing behind Switzerland in their group.
Should Italy overcome North Macedonia in Palermo, they then face a showdown with either Portugal or Turkey – who meet in Porto on Thursday – in next week's final.