Rome: Italian midfielder Jorginho sadly sentenced to the bar when his party was held to a 1-1 draw by Switzerland in their Group C World Cup qualifier at the Stadio Olimpico on Friday, leaving both parties with automatic qualifications for Qatar.
With 15 points from seven matches and winners through the final, Italy tops the group about goal difference in front of Switzerland, with the third northern Ireland at eight points.
Italy went to Northern Ireland in their final qualification on Monday, while the hosts Switzerland were in fourth position Bulgaria.
“Against Northern Ireland we start with profit, and it’s not a small one,” Italian coach Roberto Mancini told Broadcaster Rai.
Switzerland took the lead since the beginning when Noah Okafor, made his first beginning for the national team, confirming Silvan Widmer to fire Piledriver behind the net, surprising the house crowd in the 11th minute.
Oka to almost add the second four minutes later before Nicolo Barella saw a noble occasion to equalize saved by Swiss Keeper Yann Sommer.
Italy returned after a half hour sign through a clever free kick from Lorenzo Insigne that Giovanni at Lorenzo bit in front of Sommer to go home.
The host side piled up at pressure in the second half, dominating ownership but failed to get a lot of decent effort according to the target when Switzerland survived faltering.
Emerson and Federico Chiesa were both close to a similar effort during the second half which was saving, cutting from the left before firing their shots.
Italy was given another golden opportunity in the last minute normal time as a VAR review caused a penalty given to violations against Domenico Berardi by USisses Garcia, but Jorghinho blew up the ball above the bar when Switzerland fled with a draw.
“Jorginho felt like taking it (penalty) and it was true that he did it, he was one of the penalty penalty on our team …
Unfortunately we didn’t score in the second half,” Mancini said, but it would happen it seems that the players have put the game on behind them.
“Now we have to focus on the game on Monday and give everything to win – Jorginho is a great champion and our penalty specialist, we will help him forget this moment,” said in Lorenzo.
“We have two days to prepare and we really have to take home wins from Northern Ireland,” he added.
Italy draw 1-1 with Switzerland to leave the top spots still ready to be contested
