Italy coach Roberto Mancini says missing the World Cup must not happen again.

The Azzurri failed to reach the tournament after losing their playoff to Switzerland.

“We are very disappointed at not qualifying and hope this never happens again, because Italy should always be at the World Cup," Mancini told Che Tempo Che Fa on Rai 3.

“It might be a bit of an odd World Cup, but it's still a World Cup and it would've been better to be there."

Of last year's Euros victory, he also said: “It was a unique moment winning the Euros during a difficult time for the Nazionale.

“I felt like it was not a coincidence we won at Wembley after 30 years, with Luca and the other Sampdoria players who lost there in the Final with Barcelona.