Ventura fears for play-offs after Turin shocker

TURIN, Italy: Gian Piero Ventura warned Italy will struggle to even get past November’s World Cup play-offs if they reproduce the woeful form of Friday night’s 1-1 draw against Macedonia in Turin.

Aleksandar Trajkovski cancelled out Giorgio Chiellini’s first half goal as the Azzurri left the pitch in Ventura’s old stadium with whistles ringing in their ears.

“If Italy play like we did in the second half with Macedonia, we’ll struggle in the play-offs,” said Ventura.

Spain qualified first in Group G by thrashing Albania 3-0 with Italy second but still not mathematically sure of even being one of the top eight runners-up to make the playoffs.

“The result is not positive, it is not what we wanted, nor what we expected,” said the former Torino coach.

“I think the whistles were deserved, even if I think you should never jeer the national side as a point of principle.

“We need to get the crowd on our side because they can help us. We have a match waiting for us in Albania (on Monday) before the play-offs and we’ll go out there to play.

“The only thing that matters now is getting our energy back, recover a few players and go to achieve what this group deserves, which is a place in the play-offs.”

Veteran keeper Gianluigi Buffon – decked out in the new Azzurri blue kit for the 2018 World Cup – conceded the four-time world champions were still reeling from last month’s rout by Spain. — AFP