A flop that hurts, very bad indeed. Mancini's Italy it does not go beyond the 0-0 in Northern Ireland, thus failing Qatar's direct qualification to the World Cup. Switzerland will certainly be there, capable instead of beating Bulgaria (4-0) on goals and taking that first place in the group that few, until a few days ago, thought could really be in the balance. The Azzurri can recriminate for Friday's match, where the penalty missed by Jorginho still weighs a ton, certainly not for yesterday's one, where Northern Ireland stole absolutely nothing, even ending up risking winning it. In short, a bad blow for those who, just over 4 months ago, climbed to the roof of Europe at Wembley and who now, just like 4 years ago, even risk not qualifying for the World Cup.
“This is a time where we struggle – the bitter analysis of Mancini – We had an opportunity in the first half, but these are games that need to be unlocked immediately to play more relaxed. Too bad because the qualification had to be won before this match. The match against Bulgaria was the first in September after only two league matches, then the two penalties against Switzerland... However, I told the boys that we can't do anything now, now we'll have the match in March and we'll prepare well” .
Yes, because all is not lost and it is good to keep this in mind, otherwise it is better not to play the playoffs at all. The situation, still incomplete given that tonight's matches are missing to close the group stage, is rather intricate and will become slightly clearer on November 26th, when the draw will be held to decide the semi-final and (possibly) final. The good news is that we are seeded together with Portugal, Sweden, Scotland, Russia and one between Wales and Poland, therefore we will not be able to meet these teams, at least in the first game, which we will certainly play at home.
But be careful not to indulge in easy optimism, because in the second tier there are still insidious opponents such as Austria (he made us suffer a lot at the European Championships), the Czech Republic, Wales or Poland, Finland or Ukraine, Turkey or Holland or Norway (this group is still in the balance). Unfortunately, however, the current regulations make the race for the World Cup more complicated than four years ago, given that, after the semi-final, there would be a final to be played in a one-off match, perhaps even away (the pitch will be drawn), against the big heads of series. In short, the situation is undoubtedly complicated, unless Italy in March rediscovers the spirit of a few months ago, when it amazed the whole of Europe.
What was done after however is definitely below expectations, with i three draws with Switzerland (twice) and Bulgaria and the Nations League defeat to Spain. Yesterday we failed to beat Northern Ireland, a team eager and driven by the Belfast crowd, but made up largely of players from the English lower leagues. And so, while Switzerland celebrated in Lucerne by crumbling Bulgaria, Italy slammed into the green wall, without ever giving the impression of being able to tear it down. An opportunity at the beginning with Di Lorenzo, one in the second half with Chiesa: here it is the meager haul of goals created, in defiance of any talk about goal difference and the possible commitment of the Bulgarians.
We don't go to the World Cup not for a mere goal tally, but because we finished second in an affordable group, which saw us largely as favorites and which instead turned out to be a small Caporetto. Small, because all is not yet lost and the hope of avoiding the second consecutive absence from the World Cup (it would be the worst result in our history) exists, but still significant: the fear of failure is always stronger and between now and March it will also be accompanied byanxiety, impossible to avoid in such a scenario. It is urgent to clear your mind as soon as possible and rediscover the spirit of the (recent) past, otherwise the blow will be really terrible.
