How did Italy’s World Cup qualification campaign unfold?
* Italy was drawn in Group C of the UEFA World Cup qualification round, along with Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Bulgaria and Lithuania. * The pressure on coach Roberto Mancini and the team was high after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup in Russia four years ago.
* They started with three consecutive wins against Northern Ireland, Bulgaria and Lithuania before taking a break for last year’s European Championships.
* After winning the tournament, they drew twice in a row away to Bulgaria and Switzerland, before claiming a 5–0 victory at home against Lithuania.
* With two games left, Italy appeared to be in pole position to secure qualification, but drew 1–1 with Switzerland to leave both teams on equal points before the final round.
* Four months after Euro 2020 success, Italy’s 0-0 draw in Northern Ireland meant Switzerland topped their World Cup qualifying group after victory over Bulgaria, putting Mancini’s side through to the playoffs .
How did the World Cup playoffs unfold for Italy?
* Italy were on course to meet Portugal in the deciding playoff tie, but they lost the World Cup final after losing 1-0 at home to North Macedonia thanks to a last-gasp strike from Aleksandar Trajkovski.
* North Macedonia reached the final, where they were beaten 2–0 by Portugal, which secured a place in the World Cup.
Why didn’t Italy qualify for the World Cup in 2018?
* Italy qualified for the 2018 World Cup by finishing second in Group G.
* They then failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 60 years in 2017 after being held to a 0–0 home draw, making it to the final with a 1–0 aggregate victory in Russia. ,
* The Italians, who had not missed a World Cup since the 1958 final in Sweden, saw Andrea Barzagli, Daniele De Rossi and captain Gianluigi Buffon all announce their retirements from the national team just after the game.
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