Former Italy goalkeeper Dino Zoff said the news about Paolo Rossi’s death came ‘out of the blue’ and revealed ‘it’s difficult to understand’.

Zoff revealed ‘they told us about something, but I didn’t think it was so serious’ when he spoke to news agency ANSA about Rossi, who died last night at 64.

The two Italy and Juventus teammates helped the Azzurri win the 1982 World Cup and the Scudetto in 1981-82.

Italy CT Roberto Mancini said the 2022 World Cup qualifying Group C should ‘not be underestimated’, as the Azzurri are up against Switzerland and Northern Ireland.

The draw of the qualifiers for Qatar 2022 was held today and Italy were placed in Group C with Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Bulgaria and Lithuania.

Italy are drawn Switzerland and Northern Ireland in Group C of the World Cup Qualifiers for Qatar 2022.

The Azzurri currently prepare for the UEFA Nations League Finals in 2021 and Euro 2020 next summer, and today the draw of the qualifiers for Qatar 2022 was held in Zurich.

CT Roberto Mancini’s men started seeded first and were placed in Group C in a group of five teams. A total of 55 national teams were involved in the draw.

The World Cup 2022 European qualifying draw takes place today with Italy among the top seeds.

There will be five groups of five teams and five groups of six teams.

A total of 13 European teams qualify for the 2022 World Cup. The 10 group winners and three teams from the play-off route.

The 10 group runners-up qualify for the play-off stage with the best two group winners of the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League.

Mario Balotelli warns vandals who damaged his car ‘had better pray, and pray hard, that I never find out who you are.’

The former Italy international is still out of contract and seeking a new club, but continuing to live in Brescia after an ill-tempered end to his time at the Serie B side.

This morning, Balotelli posted a video on Instagram of the damage to his car, including the windows smashed in.

He also sent this message on his Instagram Stories.

Milan right-back Davide Calabria wants to keep up the positive start to the season and hopes to break into Roberto Mancini’s Euro 2020 squad.

The 23-year-old, capped twice by Italy, has played all nine Serie A games for the Rossoneri this term and was rewarded with his debut for the Azzurri in November.

“I went through a bad period, I had to get out of it by myself rolling up my sleeves and working hard,” Calabria told Sky Sport.

Roberto Mancini is confident Italy can challenge for the Nations League after drawing Spain in the semi-final. ‘The perception of Italy is different now.’

The Azzurri will host and open the Nations League Final Four on October 6, 2021, by taking on Spain at San Siro.

A day later, Belgium and France go head-to-head at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin, then the Final is in Milan on October 10.

Italy will face Spain in the Nations League semi-final on October 6 at San Siro, while Belgium take on France on October 7.

The draw was held this afternoon in Nyon and the tournament will be held in Italy from October 6-10, 2021.

The Azzurri qualified by topping their group ahead of Poland, the Netherlands and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

This is the second edition of the Nations League Final Four, as Portugal won in 2019.

Italy open the competition against Spain at San Siro, also known as the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, on October 6.

The 2021 Nations League Finals draw will take place at the UEFA headquarters today and Italy are among the Final Four in the competition.

At 16.30 UK time, the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League will be decided, and Italy seems set to host the Finals scheduled for October 2021.

UEFA revealed on their official websites that the Executive Committee will meet to confirm the host after today’s draw.

There’s no seeding in the draw and the semi-finals are scheduled for October 6 and 7, whilst the Final should take place on October 10, 2021.

Italy are back in the FIFA Ranking top 10 for the first time in four years, meaning they are top seeds for the 2022 World Cup draw.

The Azzurri made the leap up thanks to a perfect record in Euro 2020 qualifying and reaching the Nations League Final Four.

Unbeaten in over two years, the news comes on coach Roberto Mancini’s birthday.

Italy climbed two places to 10^th, ending a four-year spell out of the top 10.

Mexico are also new entries in the top 10 after nine years away, as Croatia and Colombia drop out.