Ciro Immobile is focused on helping Italy qualify for next year's World Cup in Qatar, as they go in search of a crucial three points against Switzerland in Rome on Friday.
(This article was originally published on 09.22.2021)
The European champions are level on points with the Swiss at the top of their qualifying group, but they are priced at 8/13 to beat Murat Yakin's team at the Stadio Olimpico and move to within the brink of automatic qualification.
Immobile desperate to qualify
Victory on Friday would leave the Azzurri needing a maximum of one point from their final Group C match away to Northern Ireland next Monday to be assured of qualification, which is the goal for Immobile - who was part of the Italy team who failed to reach the 2018 World Cup after losing in the play-offs to Sweden.
"We all want to take part in the World Cup," Immobile told reporters at a press-conference. "Everybody wants it so much and after what happened in 2017, there can't be another end."
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Immobile has been in impressive form for his club Lazio this season, as he is currently the leading scorer in Serie A having netted 10 goals in his 11 appearances to date, and he admits it will be extra special to represent Italy at his home ground on Friday.
"It's special to play in the stadium where I usually wear the captain's armband," he added. "I want to be the starting striker at the World Cup. It's my objective and my target and I will give my all to achieve it."
The 31-year-old helped Italy to Euro 2020 glory this summer, but knows they will be in for a tough evening against a Switzerland side that also impressed at those finals.
"It will be a tough game, they press a lot, but we played a good game in Basel (a 0-0 draw earlier in the group)," Immobile continued.
"We created a lot, but we need to improve the finishing. We played a good game over there, against an important team."
