Italy warned another World Cup qualifier failure will be "a disaster"

Italy failing to qualify for another World Cup would be "a disaster", according to Italia 90 hero Toto Schillaci.

The Azzurri lost a two-legged playoff to Sweden in November 2017 to miss their first World Cup since 1958. But now, just eight months after winning the Euros at Wembley, Roberto Mancini's side are in danger of another humiliating early exit. Italy must beat North Macedonia in Palermo tonight - and then overcome the winners of Portugal v Turkey.

And Palermo-born Schillaci, who won the Golden Boot with five goals at Italia 90, said: "Nobody expected to see Italy in the play-offs, many saw us already in Qatar. but sometimes the simplest things become the most complicated.

"You have to fight and suffer to get to a World Cup, it won't be easy, but the same is true for our opponents. There is desire and determination even because missing out on a second consecutive World Cup would be a disaster. This group will show the personality to get there even if there is still a final to play against Turkey or Portugal and it is an uphill struggle."

Former Manchester City boss Mancini took over Italy in May 2018 and has lost only three games while taking his rejuvenated team on a world record run of 37 games unbeaten. "I would not have bet a lira last summer on winning the Euros but Italy is like this," Schillaci told Gazzetta dello Sport. "When we find ourselves in difficulty, pride comes out. They are all good players. Mancini has built a fantastic group with players a lot of people were not convinced by. It the end, he was right. He won."

Italy will be without injured defenders Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Leonardo Bonucci tonight while Giorgio Chiellini is not fully fit against a North Macedonia side who won in Germany in qualifying.

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Italia 90 keeper and former Wolves boss Walter Zenga warned Corriere dello Sport: "Anything can happen, only the victory counts tonight and playing at home is not always decisive. Portugal lost a Euro Final at home and then won in France. Italy won in England last summer. In football, anything can happen in 90 minutes."

At the Euros, Italy won the semi-final against Spain and the final against England on penalties last summer with keeper Gigio Donnarumma saving from Alvaro Morata and then Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka. Jorginho had scored his first five penalties for Italy but saw Jordan Pickford save his effort in the shootout.

And then in the two World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland, the Chelsea midfielder failed from the spot in each of the two draws and the stalemate in Belfast in November condemned the Italians to another playoff. Scoring either penalty would have taken Italy directly to Qatar.

Schillaci, now 57, added: "Let's say we were a bit lucky at the Euros we have paid a high price during the World Cup qualifiers where luck did not go our way. You can miss a penalty, for heaven's sake. But even two always against Switzerland in two different races, where it was enough to win one to be in the World Cup, now we are in the balance, one foot in and one out

"There will be an incredible atmosphere in Palermo. It will be all sold-out. The fans will give great support but it is up to the players."