Roberto Mancini on Aleksandre Karapetyan's red card

Roberto Mancini hints at Italy changes in Finland, warning “this is an extremely delicate match” and telling off Leonardo Bonucci for conduct unbecoming of a captain. Italy struggled to break down 10-man Armenia on Thursday, eventually winning 3-1, but Bonucci was criticised for getting Aleksandre Karapetyan sent off.

“I haven’t spoken to him, nor had time to examine this situation, as I had more important things to do,” said Mancini when asked about the incident.

“I don’t know if he was struck or what the referee saw. If he did something that he shouldn’t have, then he ought to be more careful, being the captain now. To be honest, I preferred the game when it was 11 against 11, as there were more spaces and Armenia weren’t all clammed up in defence.”