European Championship title summer, world record with 37 international matches without defeat – but there is virtually nothing left of that in the Italian camp. A 0-0 draw for the proud Azzurri in Northern Ireland at the end of this exciting World Cup qualifier is the icing on the cake of a faded wave of euphoria – also because Switzerland did their job impeccably.
Not many words are needed to sum up Italy’s poor first half in their final World Cup qualifying group guest game in Northern Ireland. Although the reigning European champions were under pressure this evening after missing out once again on a direct World Cup ticket for Qatar 2022 with a 1-1 draw against Switzerland (Jorginho later missed a penalty), they could not come up with anything earth-shattering despite their superiority against defensively strong hosts. Only di Lorenzo (8th), Chiesa (14th), Insigne (28th) and again Chiesa (32nd) and Insigne (37th) came close. Peacock-Farrell in the Northern Ireland box always made a safe save.
And so the Azzurri could be thankful that they were still first in Group C at this point only for this reason, because in the parallel game Switzerland did not sparkle with esprit against Bulgaria either and were unlucky with a shot against the post shortly before the break.
No goal(s), no World Cup ticket
At the start of the second half, however, the Italians wanted to pick up the tempo and make it clear that they would not be repeating the dramatic loss of the 2018 World Cup in Russia (play-off exit against Sweden still with Gianluigi Buffon) four years later. At least that was the plan. But the reality was different, very different…
Instead, Northern Ireland, still defending strongly, suddenly had chances to make it 1-0: Saville despaired of keeper Donnarumma (50th), Dallas missed (81st), and Washington could not get the ball into the box guarded only by defender Bonucci (90th). On the other side, the substitutions of the successful Italian coach Roberto Mancini, who threw in Belotti, Bernardeschi and Locatelli among others, fizzled out. Only Berardi (58th) and Chiesa (63rd) came close to scoring for the Azzurri.
Emerson also missed late on (80th), but that was the end of the matter – as Switzerland were already leading 3-0 in their parallel match against Bulgaria and had long been in top spot in Group C. European champions Italy would have needed a 2-0 win to move past them again. In the end, a 3:0 was even necessary, as the Nati won 4:0 in the end – and celebrated loudly. As in 2017, the Squadra Azzurra will have to take a diversion via the play-offs and stave off a second World Cup exit in a row.
