Roberto Mancini Looks At The Hope Of Breaking Spain And Brazil's Unbeaten Record

Italy coach Roberto Mancini (Twitter @RobyMancio)

JAKARTA - Roberto Mancini expressed his belief that the Italian national team he brought to win Euro 2020 could be even stronger before the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar.

Italy's triumph in the final of Euro 2020 last month also marked an impressive record of 34 matches without losing, which makes Mancini just one game away from the international record of unbeaten held by Spain and Brazil.

#Azzurri Coach Roberto #Mancini and Leonardo #Bonucci visited the football museum in Coverciano today, where the #EURO2020 trophy is on display The story https://t.co/0uNPfKnzmR@robymancio @bonucci_leo19 #VivoAzzurro pic. twitter.com/1u04asoraE

— Italy ️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) August 30, 2021

Among the series of 34 matches without losing, there were three qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup in the European zone which were won by Mancini's team.

Italy can match the records of Spain and Brazil when they host Bulgaria at the Artemio Franchi for the fourth match of Group C of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in the Eurozone on Thursday, September 2.

"We can improve in the next 14 months before the World Cup," Mancini told a news conference.

"Nothing has changed. Our lives go on and so does the work. We have won the European Championship, made ourselves and 60 million Italians happy. It's great to be proud of the fact that we have brought happiness to these people.

"But there are still five qualifying games to go and we have to treat them carefully. We start again against players who have already played eight or their league games. The most important thing is to qualify, then we have time to prepare for the finals."

For a series of three further matches in Group C of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers for the European zone, Mancini recalled the entire Italian squad that won Euro 2020, except for Leonardo Spinazzola who was injured.

#Azzurri Coach Roberto #Mancini has named his squad for the upcoming fixtures against Bulgaria , Switzerland and Lithuania For more details https://t.co/ZfPlwTb1mF#VivoAzzurro #WCQ #Qatar2022 pic.twitter .com/5QYiLv2SL6

— Italy ️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) August 27, 2021

Three days after facing Bulgaria, Italy will travel to Switzerland before hosting Lithuania at the MAPEI Stadium on September 8.