The Euro 2020 honeymoon... and Italy's sensational summer of sport... is well and truly over as Roberto Mancini's men failed to qualify directly for the 2022 World Cup. Draws with Switzerland and Northern Ireland saw the Swiss qualify as group winners, leaving Gli Azzurri needing the dreaded play-off pathway in March to get to Qatar. Nicky and Mina break it down for us. What are the problems? What about Jorginho's penalty woes? What are Mancini's options? Where will the goals come from in the play-offs? What has happened to the element of surprise that they had at the Euros? Plus... Poetry chaos, and the Christmas run-in report card. Which managers will get to eat their panettone? And stick in to the end as we end with a good World Cup Qualification play-off memory featuring one Pierluigi Casiraghi (can he make a comeback???), coincidentally also from November 15th, all the way back in 1997. 00:00 Italy's road to Qatar 29:40 Mina's limerick 33:20 The Serie A Christmas run-in Don't forget our ChroniclesQ&A mailbag show on Friday. Tweet us your questions to @serieAchronpod with the hashtag #ChroniclesQandA For sponsorship opportunities with Serie A Chronicles podcast email marketing@mediachronicles.com.au. Find Serie A Chronicles on social media (all the links here) and at our website serieachronicles.com. Please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. You can also become a Chronicles Tifoso by supporting the podcast to help keep us running, at serieachronicles.com/supporter. Serie A Chronicles is a Media Chronicles production. Digital content and social media by Calido Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices