Mancini: Italy national team is only for Italians

Date: 23rd March 2015 at 9:46pm
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Roberto Mancini InterInter coach Roberto Mancini has insisted Franco Vazquez and Eder should not have been handed call-ups to the Italy international set-up.

Both players qualify for the Azzurri through relatives and have been included in Antonio Conte’s squad for the upcoming fixtures against Bulgaria and England.

Sampdoria forward Eder was born in Brazil, while Palermo midfielder Vazquez is Argentinian by birth but holds an Italian passport, the pair are the latest players to join a list of ‘Oriundi’ which means an immigrant of native ancestry.

“The Italian national team must be Italian,” Mancini told reporters before attending a meeting of Serie A officials.

“Those who aren’t born in Italy but have distant relatives shouldn’t be called-up, that’s my opinion.”

Eder’s second half strike earned the Blucerchiati a 1-0 victory over the Nerazzurri yesterday, leaving Mancini’s side ten points adrift of Europa League qualification.

“Yesterday we were unlucky, we deserved to win, but that’s football. Do I expect more? I’m not a magician, it takes time to set up a team. We’ve improved, but there’s definitely a lot more to do.

“I don’t care about parallels with Mazzarri, the important thing is to make the team better and to quickly take them to the top.”

 

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