Italy lost out to underdogs North Macedonia in the qualifying playoffs and the Azzurri are set to be unaccounted for at back-to-back FIFA World Cup tournaments for the first time in their acclaimed history.
Currently 6th in the FIFA world rankings, the winners of Euro 2020 are the highest-placed team to not punch their tickets to Qatar later this year. North Macedonia are ranked 67th in the world, lower than any other nation involved in the final phase of UEFA World Cup qualifiers.
Italy were comfortably the more dominant side on the night but failed to convert their many chances against an inferior opposition. Roberto Mancini’s men boasted almost two-thirds of possession and also mustered a total 32 shots, albeit half of these were blocked and only five were on target. On the other hand, North Macedonia fared four shots of which none came from inside Italy’s penalty area. The visitors did not win a single corner throughout the 90 minutes, compared to 16 for the Azzurri.
Despite the numbers being completely one-sided, the final result suggested otherwise as the visitors left Palermo with a shock 1-0 win to advance to the playoff finals where they will take on a Portugal outfit led by Cristiano Ronaldo. Portugal overcame Turkey, 3-1, in the semis and the Seleção are undoubtedly breathing a great sigh of relief after avoiding confrontation with a heavyweight such as Italy.
Italy emerged victorious in two of the first three World Cup tournaments after inception but had to wait almost half a century to add a third WC trophy in 1982. After taking third place on home soil in 1990 and coming runners-up four years later in the USA, more heartbreak ensued for the Italians when they lost in the Final at the UEFA European Championships in 2000.
The Azzurri were to rise again and they collected a fourth World Cup crown in Germany 2006, beating France on penalties after Zinedine Zidane was famously sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi.
Italy arrived at the 2010 showpiece in South Africa as World Cup holders and with a point to prove. Rather than rising above the pressure, the Azzurri crumbled and sunk directly into it. The Italians failed to win any of their three group games and flew home after finishing rock bottom of Group F with a disappointing return of two points.
Italy’s World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi stepped down following the team’s disastrous cameo in South Africa, and Cesare Prandelli was appointed as new head coach of the national team. Prandelli guided the Azzurri through a tough Group C at Euro 2012 and went all the way to the Final, but they were thumped 4-0 by winners Spain.
Italy found themselves plagued by a recurring theme of one step forward, two steps back and their nightmare was worsened at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where they exited at the group stage (again) with losses to Costa Rica and Uruguay. It went from bad to worse as the Italians did not qualify for the 2018 tournament in Russia, 60 years after they last missed out on the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. Coincidentally, it was to the Swedes whom Italy lost in the playoffs for a place at the 2018 event.
Fast forward four years and Italy were presented with the opportunity to redeem themselves from the shame of failing to qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time in more than half a century. They won each of their opening three WCQ matches without conceding a goal, but went on to collect a solitary victory from their remaining seven qualifiers and finish 2nd to Switzerland in Group C.
Italy qualified for the playoffs once again and there is little to no doubt Mancini and his players fancied their chances upon being drawn against lowly North Macedonia, but it was the underdogs who ultimately had the last laugh in the Italian city of Palermo.
Italy last won a knockout game at the World Cup back in 2006 and the next possible time the Azzurri can rewrite the history books will be in 2026 at the earliest, by which time a chunk of the current crop of players will have their best years behind them. Ciro Immobile has bore the brunt following his country’s shock defeat in the playoffs, and the Lazio striker is widely reported to be considering retirement from international football with immediate effect.
North Macedonia have ended the World Cup dream of the current Euro champions and are now hoping to do likewise against the previous incumbent of the European throne. Portugal seek to qualify for a sixth World Cup tournament on the trot, while North Macedonia are bidding to make their first appearance at the WC finals since their country gained independence in 1991.
On Tuesday, Portugal welcome North Macedonia to the Estadio Do Dragão – venue of last year’s UEFA Champions League Final – as the two nations compete for a spot at the World Cup in Qatar. Running concurrently to the match in Porto is a battle between Poland and Sweden. The third and final UEFA WCQ playoff final will see Wales meet either Scotland or Ukraine at a later date.
The main draw for the 2022 World Cup group stage will be held on Friday, April 1. The tournament is scheduled to kick off November 21, with the Final at the Lusail Stadium on December 18.
