And it’s nine! Roberto Mancini’s Italy keep on winning with the 0-3 win in Zenica against Bosnia and Herzegovina the latest victory in European qualification. It's now 13 straight victories when taking the last four matches of the EURO 2016 qualifying campaign into account. It’s a record for Italy and the side will now be seeded thanks to this latest result ahead of the draw on 30 November in Bucharest.

With his tenth conservative win in the role, Mancini has moved ahead of the legendary Vittorio Pozzo and also matched the number of wins in a calendar year (nine). Italy are unbeaten in 39 European qualifiers and after qualifying for EURO 2020 with three matches to spare, the Azzurri once against showed strength and character against the side who earlier looked as though they would be one of the main challengers in the group. In Bosnia, Tonali celebrated his first start, Acerbi his first Azzurri goal while Castrovilli and Gollini made their debuts to take the tally of players who have done so under Mancini up to 22. Florenzi, Insigne and Bernardeschi all performed well after recent struggles the league. After hitting a brace against Liechtenstein, the ‘Gallo’ Belotti found the net again while Donarumma was impressive in goal before the home crowd sportingly applauded Italy for the performance.

THE MATCH – Ahead of Donnarumma, Mancini selected a defence consisting of Florenzi and Emerson at full-back with Acerbi and Bonucci the centre-back partnership and the Juventus defender wore the captain's armband. It was his 94th appearance which sees him go level with Giacinto Facchetti at ninth in the all-team appearance table. Following injuries to Sensi and Veratti, Sandro Tonali made his first start with the 19-year-old Brescia midfielder directing the play alongside Jorginho, dropping deeper while Nicolò Barella pushed up into free space higher up. As announced by the Coach in advance, the front three consisted of Belotti, Insigne and Bernardeschi. With their qualification hopes now relying on the Nations League, Bosnia and Herzegovina had nothing to lose and went for it in their final home game.

Italy were playing in Zenica for the first time with the only other match in the country being a 2-1 loss in Sarajevo in 1996 which marked the end of the Arrigo Sacchi. The Bilino Polje Stadium only has a capacity of 12,000 but the crowd were able to generate an atmosphere. Italy started by pressing high and a Bonucci shot was blocked in the third minute and it didn’t take long for the hosts to respond with Donnarumma tipping over a Bicakcic header in the eighth minute. Dzeko’s first sight of goal came in the 12th minute with a long shot from range that Donnarumma got down to and hung on to. The Azzurri went close after 15 minutes Florenzi played it to Bernardeschi who picked out Insigne only for his effort to be denied by a desperate Kvrzic challenge. Three minutes later, Bernaredeschi brought down an Acerbi and only a smart save from Sehic preserved the clean sheet for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The goal came in the 21st minute. Bernardeschi did well out wide before giving it to Barella who found Acerbi who faked a shot with his left before turning onto his right and beating Sehic with a placed finish. It was the Lazio defender’s first Italy goal and he ran to the bench to celebrate with Immobile. The home side almost responded through Besic but his powerful strike was blocked by Emerson. Italy were able to double the lead in the 37th minute through Lorenzo Insigne who picked out the far corner after being set up by Belotti and it was his second goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina after netting on 11 June in Turin. Gianluigi Donnarumma was busy at the other end, making stops from Cimirot and Kovacevic while Sehic kept Belotti.

The ‘Gallo’ was able to find the net soon after the break, finishing over Sehic who’d come off his line to hit his ninth Italy goal and move above his good friend Ciro Immobile’s tally of eight with the goal being clapped by the home crowd. Italy were having fun and entertaining with quick passing moves and fluid play. Insigne tested Sehic from range before Bernardeschi was applauded as he made his way off for El Shaarawy. Pjanic’s injury made a bad night even worse for the home side while Castrovilli and Gollini made their Italy debuts, the 21st and 22nd players to earn the honour under Roberto Mancini. On Monday, Armenia will be the visitors in Palermo and this record-breaking Italy side will be in no mood to let up now. Two years after the failure to qualify for the World Cup, there are plenty of reasons to look to the future with optimism.

BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA 0-3 ITALY 

Goals: 21’ Acerbi (I), 37’ Insigne (I), 53’ Belotti (I)

BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA: Sehic; Kvrzic, Kovacevic, Bicakcic, Kolasinac; Cimirot, Pjanic (76’ Jajalo), Besic (61’Saric); Dzeko, Visca (61’ Hodzic), Krunic. Substitutes: Buric, Piric, Civic, Hotic, Duljevic, Hayradinovic, Mihojevic, Memisevic, Hajrovic. Coach: Robert Prosinecki.

ITALY: Donnarumma (88’ Gollini): Florenzi, Bonucci, Acerbi, Emerson; Jorginho, Tonali, Barella; Bernardeschi (75’ El Shaarawy), Belotti, Insigne (86’ Castrovilli). Substitutes: Sirigu, Di Lorenzo, Biraghi, Izzo, Zaniolo, Romagnoli, Chiesa, Mandragora, Immobile. Coach: Roberto Mancini.

Referee: Sandro Scharer (SVI). Assistants Stephane De Almeida and Bekim Zogaj (SVI). Fourth official: Alan Bieri (SVI).

Notes: Bernardeschi (I), Bonucci (I), Kovacevic (B) all booked

 

Schedule (all times CET)

Saturday 16 November

11:30 - Training (closed)

17:30 - New FIGC partners’ press conference

Sunday 17 November

11:00 - Travel Venice-Palermo

17:00 - Italy press conference (Head Coach and one player)

17:30 - Italy training (first 15 minutes open to the press)

18:30 - Armenia press conference (Head Coach and one player)

19:00 - Armenia training (First 15 minutes open to the press)

Monday 18 November

20:45 - Italy vs. Armenia

Stadio Renzo Barbera, Palermo

Coaches’ press conference, mixed zone (players) and return to club sides after the match.