Less than a year after winning the European championship, Italy have failed to qualify for this year's FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Italy suffered a stunning 0-1 loss to North Macedonia at the Stadio Renzo Barbera in Palermo in a playoff semifinal on Thursday. The loss means Italy have failed to qualify for two World Cups in a row.
Italy dominated the first half of the match, thought they did not score. Aleksandar Trajkovski found the net in the 92nd minute to book a place for North Macedonia in the playoff final next week, when they will play Portugal.
Trajkovski's low shot from the corner triggered wild celebrations among the North Macedonian players. North Macedonia have never played at the World Cup since gaining independence from the erstwhile Yugoslavia in 1991.
Reuters reported “Roberto Mancini's Italy side had 32 efforts at goal in the match.”
Mancini referred to his side's Euro Cup win as he reacted to the defeat. “Just as last July was the best thing I experienced at a professional level, this is the greatest disappointment... Soccer is like that, sometimes incredible things happen,” Mancini was quoted as saying by AP.
