Italy's World Cup qualifying campaign got off to a disastrous start on Friday, with a shocking 3-0 defeat against Norway leaving the Azzurri reeling. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma didn't mince words, branding his team's performance as “unacceptable” in a scathing post-match assessment.

The loss is a significant blow for a nation desperate to end a painful nine-year World Cup drought. Italy hasn't graced the tournament since 2014, and this opening defeat raises serious questions about their chances of reaching Qatar 2022. The pressure is now firmly on manager Roberto Mancini to address the issues and turn things around quickly.

A Night to Forget for the Azzurri

The match in Oslo was dominated by Norway, who exploited Italy's vulnerabilities with clinical finishing. The Italian defence looked shaky, and the midfield struggled to control the game. Up front, the attack lacked the spark and creativity needed to break down a resolute Norwegian side. The scoreline could have been even more emphatic had it not been for some sharp saves from Donnarumma.

“It was an unacceptable performance, there’s no other way to put it,” Donnarumma stated bluntly. “We didn’t fight, we didn’t show enough desire, and we didn’t deserve to win. We need to analyse this game, understand what went wrong, and work hard to improve.”

The Weight of History

For a nation with four World Cup titles, Italy's absence from the tournament has been a source of national shame. The 2014 failure was a shock, and the subsequent years have been marked by disappointment and frustration. The current squad is brimming with talent, but they are carrying the heavy burden of expectation and the weight of history.

Mancini, who led Italy to European Championship glory in 2021, will be under immense pressure to guide the team back to the World Cup. He'll need to find a way to unlock the team's potential and instill a winning mentality. The next few qualifying matches will be crucial in determining Italy's fate.

What's Next?

Italy face a stern test in their next qualifying match against Lithuania. They’ll need a victory to restore confidence and get their campaign back on track. The road to Qatar will be a challenging one, but Italy have the quality to overcome the obstacles – provided they can rediscover the form that saw them conquer Europe just last year. The question remains: can Mancini inspire his team to rise above this setback and deliver the World Cup dream?

The defeat serves as a stark reminder that even the most talented teams can be caught off guard. Italy must learn from this experience and respond with determination and resilience if they are to secure their place in Qatar 2022.