Italian papers were scathing in their criticism of the national team after Roberto Mancini's side spurned an automatic qualification spot for the 2022 World Cup and will instead have to qualify via the play-offs.
The Azzurri, who were crowned European champions at Wembley against England just four months ago, were held to a goalless draw at Northern Ireland on Monday night, allowing Switzerland to snatch top-spot in Group C with a win against Bulgaria.
This followed a 1-1 draw against the Swiss in Rome on Friday - when Jorginho missed a late penalty to win the game - and Italian paper La Gazzetta dello Sport did not hold back, headlining with: 'What a nightmare (and it's not over yet).'
Mancini's men will now have to go through March's play-offs, alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, when 12 teams battle for just three spots in Qatar.
Gazzetta described the draw in Belfast as 'ugly' too, and also referred to the 'ugly memories' of missing out on a spot in the 2018 World Cup in the play-offs to Sweden.
Corriere dello Sport, meanwhile, insisted Italy's hopes were 'hanging by a thread' after Monday's disappointment, admitting that the Azzurri didn't even create loads of goal-scoring opportunities at Windsor Park.
It also detailed that Sweden, Austria, Poland and Russia were amongst the other main rivals in the play-offs - Wales and Scotland will also be present in March's round of games.
Finally, Tuttosport insisted 'we need a different Italy' just four months after their Euro 2020 triumph, emphasising that there is a 'goal problem' that needs to be resolved.
Despite coming second in the group, Mancini was bullish afterwards and believed his team would still qualify for next year's showpiece in the Middle-East.
'I am disappointed,' he said after Monday's Belfast stalemate. 'We made life complicated for ourselves and qualification should've been sealed at least two games ago.
'We had the chances and didn't take them, now we've got to keep our feet on the ground, because there is still the possibility of qualifying for the World Cup.'
Rav_Brar
0
Italy should still be too strong too qualify
Awesome88
0
how they quickly forget that he won them the euros recently.
Kucbcksuyz
0
from hero to zero
SerbianLegend
0
Russia will beat Italy in the playoffs
MadridMaldives
2
The same people and papers who praised him non stop for weeks after the continental glory will slam him now for weeks. Every time when something goes wrong the first person everyone points out is the coach and most people often forget the players. Before Mancini took in charge of Italy the last time they won a Euro was 1968 and they didn’t even qualify for the last World Cup. Roberto Mancini made Italy great again with a major trophy. We human beings are so ungrateful people.
Miockmnt
1
Italy should meet Portugal in playoff🤣
oluwagoddy
2
surprised too
Wukadkmy
1
The Azzuri will qualify for the World Cup
goonersgun
0
it's a disgrace 😔
epjo
4
IRELAND to ITALY be like 👇 😀😃😁😅🤣
KHMMURU07
2
One fallen game and all bad critics and haters surely sprungs up to devour you,forgetting what Mancini build from zero to hero squad,heed non to all those banter and wr know for sure Mancini will pull back the team at the right path.✊✊