Goalscorer Giorgio Chiellini has urged Italy fans to remain behind their nation as the Azzurri head into the uncertainty of the World Cup qualifying playoffs.
Supporters at Turin's Stadio Olimpico turned against the players and national head coach Gian Piero Ventura as Macedonia were allowed to force a 1-1 draw that confirmed Italy will finish as Group G runners-up to Spain.
Chiellini, who scored just before half-time only to watch Macedonia substitute Aleksandar Trajkovski level in the final 15 minutes, is eager for his countrymen to put any disappointment behind them and focus on reaching Russia.
After the final whistle he said: "The secret will be hard work. The fans might well be disappointed but we must have their support at a time of need like this.
"It's a shame that we couldn't kill the game off after taking the lead, because we had nothing to lose really.
"Losing in Madrid [3-0 to Spain last month] might have dampened our spirits but we can't just give up.''
Sections of fans were on Friday night calling for Carlo Ancelotti, recently sacked by Bayern Munich, to take the reins from Ventura and rescue a qualifying campaign which could end with Italy missing their first World Cup since 1958.
Former Torino boss Ventura was remaining optimistic about Italy's chances of heading into a double-header against a side like Portugal or Denmark in good shape and confident of success.
"The second half was disappointing,'' he told reporters. "We lost the rhythm we'd had in the first half.
"In football you can't stop trying to impose your game on the opposition, it gets risky when you do that.
"There is still a game to play, then we'll tackle the playoffs. We hope we'll have some more players available.''
On the whistles he faced as the tide turned against Italy in Turin, Ventura added: "Italy should never be whistled, the team represents all of us. Even when there is nothing positive, the fans must help the team react well.
"We need to get back on track so we can play serious football and focus on scoring goals.''
He told Rai Sport: "I thought the first half was positive, the second was not, but when you have nothing left in the tank, that's what you get.
"I think a lack of fitness levels made a big difference and when that drops, the sharpness goes, so we could not develop anything more. In football, when you don't propose anything in attack for an entire half, it can well be that you concede.
"We hope that in the meantime four or five of the players we're missing can return. We need to get the players back, play some real football and get the situation back on track."
Veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, however, feels the jeers from fans were largely justified.
On the occasion of his 172nd cap, he told Sky Sport Italia: "The favourite sport at this time of year is to criticise the coach, but I think a team like this and players like us should be winning these games anyway and it doesn't depend on the coach.
"We're not jumping for joy about going into the playoffs but we all need to take responsibility.
"Players like me who have been here for 20 years need to find a way to drag the other boys forward so we can give Italy the best chance of getting to the World Cup.
"I think the whistles were an expression of disapproval by the crowd and they were in response to how we got on.
"They were, therefore, justified.''