Juventus Defender Bonucci Has Urge Italy To ‘rediscover The Joy Of Football After Being Relegated To World Cup Play-off

Leonardo Bonucci wants Italy to ‘rediscover the joy in our football’ they had at the European Championship. ‘I am convinced we’ll not only go to the World Cup, but we’ll have a great World Cup.’

The Azzurri lifted the UEFA EURO 2020 trophy at Wembley only four months ago, but since that moment have struggled to maintain the same level of performance or results.

This evening’s 0-0 draw with Northern Ireland means Switzerland win the group and Italy must go through the World Cup play-offs in March 2022.

“My first thought is for March. There’s nothing else to do, just look ahead to March with a difficult first match and hopefully another three days later,” Bonucci told RAI Sport.

“We need to recharge the batteries, both physical and mental, rediscovering the determination and joy in our football that we had at the Euros. We played football with the joy of doing it and not the pressure of having to prove something. Perhaps becoming Champions of Europe has unconsciously changed something there.

“We need to take that pressure off and play with freedom, otherwise we second-guess ourselves.”

Starting from the EURO 2020 semi-final with Spain on July 6, Italy have only won two games within 90 minutes, beating Lithuania 5-0 in a World Cup qualifier on September 8 and Belgium 2-1 in the Nations League third place final on October 10.

During that period, they drew with Spain, England, Bulgaria, Switzerland (twice), Northern Ireland and lost 2-1 to Spain in the Nations League semi-final on October 6.

“We made life complicated for ourselves with the matches after the Euros in this qualifying group and it’s a pity. Congratulations to Switzerland, as they believed and kept going when we seemed to have it in our hands,” continued Bonucci.

“I am convinced that if we rediscover that joy, the unity as a team, we will not only go to the World Cup, but we will have a great World Cup.”

Source: football-italia