R. Mancini: I am confident that we will qualify for the World Championship © AP

The Italian national team is once again risking missing the World Cup. Yesterday the European champions played a 1-1 draw at home against the Swiss and could lose the chance to fight for a direct ticket to the World Cup. R. Mancini's players are tied with the Swiss (after 15 points) in the group and will play their last match in Northern Ireland. However, the coach is worried about the threat of taking second place and playing in the play-offs. "Players regret such a result, it's normal. When you don't score a penalty in the 90th minute, all you can do is apologize, but now we can't change anything. Nevertheless, we will play in the World Cup, I am sure of that."