After last Thursday's defeat against North Macedonia it seemed that Italy's coach Roberto Mancini was one step away from leaving his position after failing to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. It was a major failure even if it arrived only nine months after Italy's historic win at UEFA Euro 2020. A few days were needed to reflect and think but Italy's FA president Gabriele Gravina insisted from the first moments that Mancini was the right person to continue with Italy and despite the failure a change wasn't the right solution. Defender Leonardo Bonucci had the same idea, and said on Monday that "what the coach has given us in these three years is something unique. He has created an empathy that is rare to see in the national team. For us continuing with the coach is just the logical thing to do. His ideas, his human value are unquestionable. The result of a one-off match can change opinions, but those who live this every day only want to continue this path.''

Mancini will take some more time to decide his future but it looks increasingly likely that he will want to to keep the job and fulfill his four year agreement until 2026.