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Message: [QUOTE="Forza Azzurri, post: 3912976, member: 1452"] Qualification is a must. Zero excuse not to qualify. I am more circumspect about the World Cup because so much depends on the group. If they end up like Hungary did at the Euros and have three heavyweights in their group, I cannot really get upset at not getting out of the group. Having said that, the number of countries around the world that I really don't expect us to have a realistic chance to beat continues to decline. I am less optimistic than you on when we can realistically compete for a WC. There is a reason that only 8 countries have ever won it. It requires talent, depth of talent (Italy's fourth choice winger, Bernardeschi, would probably start for us. Our fourth choice winger?), and then some luck (injuries, opponents, penalties etc.) [/QUOTE]