Italy will miss the World Cup, for the second consecutive edition. This time, after falling to North Macedonia with a score of 0-1 thanks to a goal by Trajkovski. It was a match that the Azzurri dominated from the beginning; however, they did not know how to take advantage of their chances.
This match was, without a doubt, a catastrophe in Italy. Few thought that North Macedonia could surprise the reigning European champions, who were taken for granted in a final against Portugal. Italy dominated the game completely; however, it was not enough to avoid another historic elimination in which they could not surpass a team that shot twice between the three posts.
If we review the match, it’s incredible that Italy didn’t win it. They dominated the game from end to end and had not one, not two, not three, but at least eight or nine situations to transfer football superiority to the result. The goalkeeper, Dimitrievski excelled, but in most, it was the Italians who failed.
First Half
The match began with absolute dominance by Italy. Those led by Mancini dominated the ball, exceeding the threshold of 80% possession. North Macedonia was not able to oxygenate and get out of their area; but, at the same time, Italy did not create too much danger. Mancini wanted to solve quickly, Milevski survived.
Italy led North Macedonia in the first half, giving the visitors just one shot, but they were unable to score the go-ahead goal. And while the murmurs spread in the stands, the ghosts of the 2018 playoff against Sweden began to make the Italians impatient in the stands of the Renzo Barbera in Palermo.
Second Half
The scoring chances continued to fall for Italy, but the goal did not come. And the people, the players, and the technical staff themselves became nervous as the minutes passed. While Macedonia, little by little, grew supported by Dimitrievski’s clearances and the stronghold that Musliu led in the rear.
A resistance that had its reward in added time, when Trajkovski beat Donnarumma with an incredible right foot from outside the area, to score the goal that gave them the victory, surprisingly, in this match.
Italy went from celebrating the European Championship title, with an extensive unbeaten run, to this new and enormous disappointment that leaves it for the second time in a row out of the most important competition in the world, the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
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