Belfast: Italy skipped automatic qualifications for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar four months from their 2020 euro victory after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Northern Ireland on Monday.
The Azzurri entered the clash of the qualification of the last C group they learned that they needed to win with enough goals to stay in front of Switzerland to claim the place in the final next year in Qatar.
With Switzerland got a 4-0 victory over Bulgaria in Lucerne, only a victory with a three-goal margin would be enough for Italy but they could not find the way past the Ireland side determined and had to be satisfied with the March playoff place.
The playoffs did not hold beautiful memories for Italy, which failed to make the 2018 World Cup after losing to Sweden more than two feet.
Only three playoff teams from 12 eligible for the final.
“We can’t do anything now, we have this game in March and will try to give the best,” said Italian coach Roberto Mancini to Rai Sport.
“We are currently struggling to score, even though it has ownership.
Northern Ireland puts everyone in defense and we struggle to break down like that.” Obviously from the start that it would not be an easy task for Italy that was hit by an injury, which started a match without a striker who was recognized by the absence of a Ciro not moving.
Northern Ireland did not concede goals at home in their previous four qualifications and arranged to frustrate Italians, although unable to qualify for the finals itself.
The visitors created a little in the opening period, with Giovanni’s efforts in Lorenzo from a tight angle, which was well saved by Bailey Peacock-Farrell, as close as they came.
After the break, the hosts’ George Saville missed a great opportunity to make Italian assignments more difficult, before Federico Chiesa drilled the other end.
Mancini threw several other advanced choices when he saw to increase the threat of his team’s attacks, but the home team, truth, never seemed problematic.
Italy went to the March playoffs even though they finished their unbeatable World Cup qualifying campaign – four draw results since the success of Euro 2020 became their fall.