London [UK], November 12: Italy head coach Roberto Mancini says "there is a lot of work to do" as his side bid to qualify for the Nations League knockout phase.
Mancini lost his first game back as national team boss when Italy lost to Belgium 2-0 in Rome in this season's Nations League opener, but they have since beaten Turkey twice and drew 1-1 with France in Paris.
Next up for Italy is Thursday's Group A1 game against unbeaten table-toppers France at San Siro before they face third-placed Belgium in Brussels on Sunday in what could prove to be a winner-takes-all clash for the second qualification place.
Mancini told a press conference: "Given how the situation evolved in the first four games, we find ourselves in this position, and we can play for the qualification. The road is still long anyway and there's a lot of work to do. This is a certainty."
The average age of Mancini's squad is 24 years and 171 days, with AC Milan forward Alphadjo Cisse, 20, and Como winger Mattia Liberali, 19, called into the senior squad for the first time.
"Some coaches play young players, others don't," Mancini said. "We have the chance to see and know these young players with technical abilities.
"We call them to assess them because we think they can become good soon.
"I like that we are building a group of young players, along with some experienced ones who aren't here now because they have issues. We played some good games and they are building a nice bond."
France, who can seal their quarter-final place with victory over Italy before they face Turkey on Sunday in Bordeaux, could be without Kylian Mbappe against the Azzurri.
The Real Madrid forward missed training on Wednesday due to a hamstring injury and head coach Zinedine Zidane has called Paris St Germain's 20-year-old forward Senny Mayulu into his squad for the first time.
Paris FC winger Pablo Pagis, Wolfsburg right-back Sael Kumbedi and Bournemouth striker Eli Junior Kroupi have also earned their first call-ups as Zidane is without a host of established stars.
As well as big concerns over Mbappe's fitness, Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu, Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram and Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni are all injured.
Source: Qatar Tribune
