Mancini gunning for World Cup glory with Italy's qualification in the balance

Italy are aiming for World Cup glory despite having to navigate a treacherous play-off path in order to get the 2022 tournament, with North Macedonia the first barrier standing in their way.

The European champions begin a potential two-match mini-campaign in Palermo on Thursday with missing a second straight World Cup a real possibility, as a trip to either Turkey or Portugal awaits should they get through their semi-final.

However, coach Roberto Mancini says he is looking past the playoffs and at Qatar, where the tournament kicks off in November.

"Our goal is to win the World Cup and to win the World Cup we have to win these two matches. There's nothing else to say," Mancini told reporters on Monday.

After so-called 'Notte Magiche' ('Magical Nights') of Euro 2020, Italy looked certain to banish the ghosts of the disastrous qualifying campaign for 2018 as Mancini's team not only won, but won playing an expansive style of football rarely associated with the Azzurri.

Those balmy summer evenings soon gave way to a frosty autumn in which Italy drew four of their final five World Cup qualifiers and two missed Jorginho penalties in their two matches with Switzerland cost them an automatic spot.

Italy's displays in those matches did not live up to the swaggering style which characterised their play right up to their Euro quarter-final win over Belgium.

"I'm confident. I have good players, professionals who from nothing built a victory that nobody believed in beforehand," added Mancini.

"They managed to form themselves into an extraordinary team. We need to build our confidence from that, from what we have accomplished."

- Defensive worries - Although the manner in which top spot in Group C was handed to the Swiss has caused alarm,