The most incredible news came from Italy. The quadruple world champion, reigning European champion, will miss the World Cup for the second time in a row. Already beaten four years ago by Sweden (1-0/0-0), the “Nazionale” has still stranded in dams. The children of Italy will live twelve years without a World Cup…
Tense, carrying the ball too much like the Parisian Marco Verratti, Roberto Mancini’s men never found the fluid game that put them on the roof of Europe.
Domenico Berardi spoiled a lot, even a gift from Macedonian goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski (30th), Giacomo Raspadori hit the bar (78th), and Aleksandar Trajkovski punished them. His goal is superb, a chest-oriented control and a cross shot to deceive Gianluigi Donnarumma, who had a nightmarish month of March, starting with Karim Benzema’s three goals at Real Madrid with Paris SG.
In the sporting history of North Macedonia, the miracle of Palermo joins the “miracle of Duisburg”, the victory in Germany (2-1), which had contributed to taking them to this dam.
A missed penalty by Yilmaz
To compete in a second major competition, after Euro-2020, the Macedonians must beat another European champion.
Portugal got scared against Turkey, especially when Lille’s Burak Yilmaz shot the penalty kick for the equalizer at 2-2 (85th).
The Seleçao had been leading since goals from Otavio (15th) then Diogo Jota (42nd), but Yilmaz (65th) had revived Turkey. At the very end of the game, Matheus Nunes secured the victory.
Cristiano Ronaldo is still on his way to joining the ranks of players who have played in five World Cups. He did not score but participated in the goals of his team.
The other play-off final will pit Sweden against Poland.