Italy deserved an automatic spot at the Qatar World Cup, says Mancini

Italy deserved automatic qualification for the 2022 World Cup given their status as European champions, according to head coach Roberto Mancini.

Top-seeded Italy finished second to Switzerland in their qualifying group and then suffered a surprise loss to North Macedonia in the play-off semi-final in March.

This means Italy have missed out on successive World Cups, also failing to reach Russia 2018, despite winning Euro 2020 between those qualifying disappointments.

However, Mancini insists the Azzurri should not have gone through the qualifying process for Qatar after conquering their continent last year.

"Not only European champions, but winners from all continents," he added in an interview with Corriere Della Sera. "I say it for the good of football.

"Also, whoever won the title in the previous edition should always be involved. It was like that in the past. Football doesn't just make good decisions for itself."

Italy emerged from their World Cup heartbreak by advancing to next year's Nations League final, where they will be joined by Croatia, Spain and the Netherlands.

The longer-term goal for Mancini is to reach Euro 2024 and then the next World Cup, which will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico in just under four years.< /p>

Mancini, who is under contract with the Azzurri until after this tournament, said: "I stayed because I want revenge [by reaching the World Cup].

"But at the moment we can't look that far ahead. The 2026 World Cup is a long way off. Now we have to focus on the Nations League final and qualifying for the Euros.

"I wanted to stay to chase after the World Cup, but nothing is final in football and things can still change. We want to go to the next World Cup and hopefully win it."

Italy lost 2-0 to Austria in a friendly on Sunday and will be next in action in four months when they host England in their first Euro 2024 qualifier .