World Cup 2022: Italy out of the World Cup, loses 1-0 to North Macedonia

While the footballing nations in health are discussing the opportunity to play the world cup every two years, the European champion Italy punishes itself with at least 12 years of abstinence, failing to land in Qatar 2022 after missing Russia 2018.

This is the response to a paradoxical and sad evening, in which the Azzurri lost 1-0 against North Macedonia in the playoff semifinal, the Azzurri accentuate the trend that emerged after that 11 July 2021 Wembley triumph: they were then unable to beat Switzerland twice, despite Jorginho’s famous two penalties in favour, hadn’t gone beyond par even with Bulgaria and Northern Ireland.

That team with masterful play and character evidently no longer existed.

Like other coaches, Mancini paid a pledge of gratitude towards his group: he also succeeded Bearzot, who after the world championship won in 1982 was eliminated by the next European. Tonight Mancini’s men have sensationally collapsed: a Barella shadow, perhaps guilty on the opponent’s goal Donnarumma, impalpable Insigne and Immobile: but apart from Verratti, lucid in the verticalization, Berardi, at least lively, Bastoni careful and sure, all the others played under rhythm basking in the useless ball possession recorded. On the other hand, that of the Macedonians, only a lot of goodwill: thanks to a flash of Trajkovski that blinded Donnarumma in the 92nd minute, it was enough. At the start, the warmth and enthusiasm of Palermo’s welcome brought the Azzurri back to the atmosphere of the European Championship. last summer.

Mancini’s choices also contributed to the auspicious revival: as far as possible, or defense in pieces apart, the coach relied on the team capable of surprisingly winning the continental title: the midfield was that Barella-Jorginho-Verratti, the trident offensive as well, Berardi-Immobile-Insigne. With Donnarumma behind representing continuity, the defensive package saw Florenzi and Emerson outside, Gianluca Mancini and central Bastoni while Chiellini was sent to the bench to save himself unnecessarily for the clash with Cristiano Ronaldo. Barella-Jorginho-Verratti, the offensive trident as well, Berardi-Immobile-Insigne. With Donnarumma behind representing continuity, the defensive package saw Florenzi and Emerson outside, Gianluca Mancini and central Bastoni while Chiellini was sent to the bench to save himself unnecessarily for the clash with Cristiano Ronaldo. Barella-Jorginho-Verratti, the offensive trident as well, Berardi-Immobile-Insigne. With Donnarumma behind representing continuity, the defensive package saw Florenzi and Emerson outside, Gianluca Mancini and central Bastoni while Chiellini was sent to the bench to save himself unnecessarily for the clash with Cristiano Ronaldo.

At the blue 4-3-3, the Macedonian coach Milevski responded with a formation devoted to covering the spaces in a very indicative 4-5-1: on the other hand with the best, namely Elmas and Kostadinov, absent due to disqualification, the goal it was obvious: to hope that the night of the blue assaults would pass soon and to focus on an impromptu flicker or even on extra time and penalties to materialize the coup. From the obvious initial blue pressure, for half an hour, continuous hand-to-hand combat between players and carom of the ball arose, but not even a shot on goal because the Macedonians with determination and diligence interrupted the initiatives and passing lines of Verratti and his teammates. Thus the game only started on 31 ‘when foolishness in the postponement phase by goalkeeper Dimitrievski released the shot in the heart of the Berardi area. which, however, kicked weakly and allowed the number 1 opponent to make an easy save.

The Azzurri forced the timing but it resulted in a right-foot from Insigne in the 34th minute (out), and a useless protest for an alleged handball in the Macedonian area by Velkovski in the 38th minute. Indeed, it was Milekski’s men who created a couple of opportunities in closing time: on the first, a recovery by Florenzi frustrated Milan Ristovski’s solitary escape, in the second the Macedonian striker himself shot from a good position forcing Donnarumma to parade in diving. In the second half, the plot of the match, between blue ball possession and Macedonian indefinite defense, could not change, and in fact the public found themselves hoping for an interpretation by some of the European champions. That could have been Berardi between 51 ‘and 53’, good at letting go two dangerous left throws, one saved and one slightly out. But guilty in the 58th minute, when, on an intelligent touch in depth by Verratti, he found himself kicking alone from the edge of the area and sent the ball very high.

At 64 ‘Mancini tried Raspadori’s move: the attacker noted Insigne, who had been impalpable for a long time. No concrete result from the substitution, and then Roberto Mancini tried two more grafts: Tonali instead of the extinguished Barella, and Pellegrini to take over Immobile: raspadori moved on to make the center forward in a trident with Pellegrini on the left and Berardi on the right. Finally at 85 ‘a good initiative arrived by Emerson, who freed Pellegrini in the area, surprised and only able to transform the assist into further support, which had failed. At 90 ‘Gianluca Mancini, struggling with a cramp, gave way to Chiellini, and Joao Pedro took the place of Berardi. Useless: Trajkovski’s right thunderbolt illuminated the Sicilian night of the Macedonians.

“It is difficult to explain, there is a great disappointment, we are destroyed. We missed scoring but we weren’t presumptuous. We certainly lacked something, they paid for mistakes made from September onwards. I’m proud of my teammates. We have to start again. and I hope Mancini stays, we need him to do it “. Thus the blue captain, Giorgio Chiellini to the microphones of Rai after the defeat against North Macedonia, which excludes Italy from the World Cup for the second consecutive time.

“As in July it was the best thing that happened to me on a personal level, this is the biggest disappointment. Tonight an incredible thing happened. We shouldn’t have been there. We did everything we could to win the match, but some matches are like that… “The Italy coach Roberto Mancini said to Rai microphones after the elimination against Macedonia. “The goal in the 90th minute seems to have been on purpose. I don’t know what to say. I’m very sorry for the players. My future? The disappointment is too big to talk about. However, I’m sure the team has a big one.”