DObviously, Italy is angry with the World Cup. After missing the 2018 edition, won by the France team, the squadra azzura will not see the color of the World Cup in Qatar next November either. Roberto Mancini’s players, who faced those of North Macedonia in the semi-final of the play-offs (qualifying phase), lost 1-0, conceding a goal in added time of the second period.
Four years later, the scenario is almost the same. Because Italy had also been eliminated in the play-offs in 2018, it was against Sweden. The children of Italy will live twelve years without the World Cup… Tense, carrying the ball too much like the Parisian Marco Verratti, Roberto Mancini’s men have never found the fluid game that put them on the roof of Europe.
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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.
���� Italy 0 – 1 North Macedonia ���� THE SENSATION
North Macedonia open the scoring! Italy is practically eliminated, Italy will certainly not see the 2022 World Cup…#lequipeFOOT #ITAMAC pic.twitter.com/OBTmWy7Yvp
— the chain L’Équipe (@lachainelequipe) March 24, 2022
North Macedonia will face Portugal in the play-off final, which ruled against Turkey (3-1). Wales also qualified thanks to a double from Gareth Bale against Austria (2-1) and will play in June against the winner of Scotland-Ukraine, a match postponed due to the war. Finally Poland, automatically qualified after Russia was sidelined for the invasion of Ukraine, must wait for the name of their opponent, Sweden and the Czech Republic playing overtime (0-0).
Yilmaz misses a penalty for Turkey
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.
Wales relied on their star, Gareth Bale, captain and legend who sent his team to the final with two magnificent goals, a direct free kick in the top corner (25th) and a pivoting cross shot in the box ( 51st). Marcel Sabitzer only reduced the score (65th). Thanks to their leader, the Dragons are still in the race for their second World Cup, after 1958. They will have to wait until June to find out if they face Scotland or Ukraine. In Solna, Sweden and the Czech Republic played extra time.