European champions Italy have once again missed out of World Cup qualification after a shock 1-0 home loss to minnows North Macedonia in the playoffs semi-finals on Thursday.
Alexsandar Trajkovski was the hero as his 93rd minute strike, sent North Macedonia into the playoff final from path C.
Italy have now failed to qualify for back-to-back World Cups for the first time in their history.
Also Read: 2022 WCQ Playoffs: ‘Attack Massively, Defend As A Unit Against Black Stars –Orji Kalu Tells Eagles
Recall they lost to Sweden 1-0 on aggregate in the 2018 World Cup qualifying playoffs.
Despite playing in front of their fans, Italy could not break down a resolute North Macedonian side.
The four-time World Cup winners edged North Macedonia in every aspects of the game.
They led on number of shots which was 32-4, shots inside the box: 16-0, shots on target: 5-2, possession: 66%-34% and corners: 16-0, but it was North Macedonia who got the most important statistics.
With the game heading for extra-time, Trajkovski arrowed home a long-range right-footer after the Azzurri’s Chelsea midfielder Jorginho missed a header – leaving the whole of Italy in shock.
North Macedonia will now take on Portugal in the playoffs final to determine who qualifies for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
To get to the playoffs final, Portugal beat Turkey 3-1.
19 Comments
Omg unbelievable indeed there’s no small team when it comes to present day football. What a shocker Italy out of world cup again.
Not a reply anyway.just want to stay on top of the column…
After watching the Nigeria/Ghana game. The results is too close to call. But there is a winner. And the loser wil was so much aggressive.A player wil be ruled out from playing football after the game .as a result of bad tackle .in the two legged affair the winner is taking just one goal .
You are either a soothsayer or a false prophet, and both are abomination in the sight of Almighty God. Repent now!
Instead of asking who wil win or who will get injury or wat to do to prevent it. Omg.
Tell us!
Leave am, let him be cursing there for his eyes he thinks he is prophesying, Allah forbid it, in Jesus name, inshallah
I not cursing.i m not a politician.i am tell u wat I watched.u don’t no me
Who is the winner,loser and the player who will not play the game anymore Mr olu?
Who are the winner
Who will win?Who will lose?Who will be injured?
Damn!!! How???
A few lessons to learn from this stunner of a game.
1) No matter how good a team is, if you don’t convert the opportunities you create, your opponent has a chance to get something from the game, even win it possibly. Although their opponents defended brilliantly, Italy had some good chances, but failed to convert any. Reminds me of the Nigeria vs Tunisia game at the Afcon. Missed chances usually come back to cost you big time.
2) There are minnows in football, but they are getting tougher and tougher. To beat them, you have to work for it. You have to earn it. And the minnows are not shy about punching above their weight, or beating higher ranked opponents.
Reference cases:
Nigeria 0-1 CAR in Lagos.
Ghana 2-3 Comoros at the Afcon.
Algeria 0-1 Equatorial Guinea at the Afcon.
Italy 0-1 North Macedonia today.
Numerous other examples abound of teams losing to lesser ranked teams.
3) No team is too big to lose. If you don’t do what is necessary to win a game, chances are you will lose it.
4) The importance of staying focused throughout the game.
Italy conceded just a few minutes after regulation time (the same way Nigeria conceded against CAR in Lagos).
It’s unbelievable that European champions and world soccer giant Italy will be absent from a second consecutive world cup.
A not so subtle warning for Nigeria as the big match looms tomorrow: STAY FOCUSED THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE GAME, PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS, AND TAKE YOUR CHANCES WHEN THEY COME.
You won my heart on this kę @Pompei. This is a wake up call for Super Eagles. Glad its happened a day before Nigeria vs Ghana.
Hmm. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Nice write up Pompei.
Interesting to note that the matchwinner for North Macedonia, Aleksandar Trajkovski, plays his football in Saudi Arabia for a club named Al Fayha.
Very noteworthy.
Very Noteworthy. For a Sunday Sunday league player. Lmao!! However, he used to be a stalwart for Palermo in the Scudetto at his prime.
Thank God for google. This fool right here thinks he is some football supremo. I bet you didn’t know him before today. “stalwart” may ass abegiii shattapp!
If this happen in Nigeria you will hear something like how can you lose to a team of 100 plus below you in taking as if it has never happened before. Mancini must be a bad coach he only won European championship purely because of caliber of his players in his team lol
He said a thing that come to pass when my God has not commanded it.
We are not at war, no player is going to loss His career over this game both this side and the other side.
Kumasi field be filled with blood Jesus, I nullify every enchantment against se players in Jesus name