Italy head coach Roberto Mancini refused to be drawn into a discussion regarding his future, following their shock 1-0 defeat at home to North Macedonia in their 2022 World Cup playoff semi-final on Thursday.
The Euro 2020 champions will not be competing at this year's showpiece tournament in Qatar after they were stunned in the 92nd minute by a strike from Aleksandar Trajkovski.
For the first time in their history, the Azzurri have failed to qualify for successive World Cup finals, having also missed out on a place at the 2018 tournament in Russia.
Speaking to the press after the game in Palermo, Mancini expressed his disappointment and stated that it was not the right time to discuss his future as Italy boss.
"Just as the Euros was the most wonderful experience of my life, this was the biggest disappointment. We can say nothing, that is football, sometimes incredible things happen and it happened," Mancini told reporters, via Football Italia.
"We shouldn't have been here in the first place, but we did everything we could to win and it's hard to even talk about it.
"The victory at the Euros was absolutely deserved, we played great football. Then some of the fortune we had in that tournament turned into total and complete bad luck, as some unbelievable things happened from September onwards.
"We dominated the group, all we needed was one of those moments to go well, but neither of them did. Tonight, it feels almost as if conceding a goal at the 92nd minute was fitting. This is a group of fine players and I am sorry for them."
When asked specially about his future, Mancini added: "We will see. I think everyone is too disappointed right now to talk about the future."
"I have to say, I care more for my lads now than I did in July. This is such a tough moment, my affection for them is immense. It's too early to say what happens next, as there is such disappointment, but at the same time this is a squad of great players with a bright future."
Former Manchester City manager Mancini, who has been in charge of the Italian national team since May 2018, has previously been linked with the Manchester United vacancy. body check tags ::
