Immobile Criticized For Being Barren, Mancini: At The World Cup He Will Score 8 Goals And We Will Be Champions

Ciro Immobile (Instagram @ ciroimmobile17)

JAKARTA - Roberto Mancini defended Ciro Immobile, who was criticized by the public for being barren in international matches.

In his last six appearances, Immobile has failed to score, including in the last two matches against Bulgaria and Switzerland less than two months after winning Euro 2020.

Immobile's infertility has even sparked public calls for Mancini to refresh Italy's front line when they host Lithuania in Group C of the Euro 2022 World Cup qualifiers at the MAPEI Stadium, Wednesday, September 8.

He even expressed confidence that Immobile could lead Italy's front line to victory in the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar later.

"We won the Euros with 26 players and Ciro played every game. He scored in two games, in the other he almost scored or the ball didn't hit the net," Mancini told a news conference.

"Of course, I have to instruct him to do some special moves, but I don't see any major problems.

"He always scores goals, maybe in the World Cup later he will score eight goals and we won," he added.

Mancini is also not worried about the last two draws, which appear to be a drop in performance for Italy.

Although Italy broke the international record of not losing to 36 games, but their position at the top of Group C is only four points ahead of Switzerland who have two games less.

"I'm not too worried. Psychologically, the players are of course in good condition, they won the Euros and have to play calmly," said Mancini.

"Sometimes we are unlucky because the ball doesn't want to go into the net and in Italy there are always people looking for scapegoats.

"But we isolate ourselves from those kinds of things and try to do some things better. Then the team will do what we usually do, also Immobile, the goal will come."