Belfast, November 16 (BNA): Italy missed out on the automatic qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, four months after winning the Euro 2020 championship, after a goalless draw with Northern Ireland on Monday.
The Azzurri entered the final in Group C qualifiers knowing they need to win enough goals to stay top of Switzerland to claim a place in next year’s finals in Qatar.
With the Swiss winning 4-0 against Bulgaria in Lucerne, a win by just three goals was enough for Italy, but they couldn’t find a way to get past a resolute Irish side and had to settle for a playoff in March. , Reuters reports.
The qualifiers do not carry fond memories of Italy, which failed to reach the World Cup 2018 after losing to Sweden in two matches. Only three of the 12 teams qualified for the finals.
“We can’t do anything about it now, we have this game in March and we will try to give our best,” Italy coach Roberto Mancini told Rai Sports.
“At the moment we are struggling to score goals, despite our control of possession. Northern Ireland put everyone on defense and we are struggling to break down such a side.”
It was clear from the start that it would not be an easy task for injury-hit Italy, which started the match without a recognized striker in the absence of Ciro Immobile.
Northern Ireland have not conceded a home goal in their previous four qualifying matches, and have frustrated the Italians, despite not being able to qualify for the finals themselves.
Visitors didn’t create much in the opening period, with Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s effort from a narrow angle, which Billy Peacock Farrell, saved, as soon as possible.
After the break, homeowner George Savile missed a great opportunity to make Italy’s job even more difficult, before Federico Chiesa overtook the other side.
Mancini threw several other options forward as he looked to bolster his team’s offensive threat, but the hosts, in truth, never looked turbulent.
Italy will go into the knockout rounds in March despite ending their World Cup qualifying campaign unbeaten – four draws since their Euro 2020 success have been their downfall.