Italy manager Roberto Mancini expects a physical Northern Ireland side to provide the toughest challenge of the three World Cup qualifying games his side are facing during a busy international break. The Azzurri, who are on a 22-match unbeaten run under Mancini, welcome Ian Baraclough’s side to Parma on Thursday for their opening 2022 World Cup qualifier. “The first match is the most difficult: it’s our first game in five months, and it’s against a difficult side to face,” Mancini said. “I’ve been keeping in touch with (Lavery) and he’s been hitting the back of the net regularly, so he’ll come straight in for (Washington). He’s hitting the back of the net regularly and that adds to the firepower that we’ve got.”Read MorePA Media

Source: Irish Independent March 23, 2021 02:38 UTC