Italy had the fate in their hands during the World Cup qualification phase but missed out on Qatar 2022 due to some crucial errors, including Jorginho’s mistakes from the spot against Switzerland.
The Chelsea playmaker fluffed two penalty kicks in two games against the Swiss during the qualification group forcing the Azzurri to two draws. The ex-Napoli and Hellas Verona star is aware of how heavy those two mistakes were for the Azzurri, saying that the remembrance will haunt him for the rest of his life. However, Jorginho is not the only one to blame for the Azzurri’s second successive World Cup fiasco, as many other errors cost Italy the qualification.
Italy vs. Bulgaria 1-1: Florenzi
September 2021, Italy’s first match as European champions. Federico Chiesa put the Azzurri ahead after 16 minutes, but Atanas Iliev levelled the score before the break making the most of a defensive mistake by Alessandro Florenzi that paved the way for Kiril Despodov’s assist from the left.
Switzerland-Italy 0-0: Berardi and Jorginho
The Azzurri visited Switzerland three days later, picking up a 0-0 draw. Before Jorginho’s error in the second half, Domenico Berardi missed a huge chance inside the box, failing to find the net after a great assist from Manuel Locatelli. In a way, it was even easier than a penalty kick, but Yann Sommer managed to deny the Sassuolo winger before saving Jorginho’s penalty.
Italy-Switzerland 1-1: Barella and Jorginho
Two months later (November 12) the Azzurri hosted Switzerland at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Their goalkeeper Sommer was once again decisive. Italy went one goal down in the first half, but Giovanni Di Lorenzo equalised before the break. Nicolò Barella had another chance to find the net a few minutes before Di Lorenzo’s goal. Jorginho then missed his third consecutive penalty with the Azzurri in the second half sending it over the crossbar.
Italy-North Macedonia 0-1: Berardi
Italy dominated the match, had 32 shots, five on target, but North Macedonia needed just two to score the winner. Of all the chances created by Italy, the most incredible was probably the one for Berardi, who intercepted a pass of Stole Dimitrievski but somehow managed not to find the net with a weak shot on an empty target, saved by the North Macedonia goalkeeper.
How they went from beating teams in euro qualifying 3-0 and 9-1 against Armenia then smashing teams in group stage to this is beyond me. This is way way way worse than 4 years ago
So gutted
After winning Euro, Italy felt that we were back to the powerhouse of old wanting to play Argentina in a Cup of Cup and anyone else would be willing to play a friendly it seemed.
Italy overachieved as they came in hot for the tournament and the orginal fundamental problem missing a true creative midfielder and a striker who can finish still remain. Not being able to break down teams who sit back and park the bus has been our biggest problem for the reasons mentioned above. Young talent is lacking and yet again, remove the aging players from the field and off to the next chapter. At least go out with a youthful squad that plays fast attacking soccer. When you have to call a 30 year old striker who never played on the national team, you know you have problems. WIll be a long 4 years.
Has I commented yesterday before the match our euro winners came back in September with their heads in cloud 9 and not mentally ready for the remaing group matches
But the biggest mistake was not the players but Mancini for not having the guts to freshen up the players and sticking with his old faithfulls
He has to go now
The blame lies ultimately with the coach. He could surely see the signs even during the final stages of the Euros, when they could not score and had to go to penalties.
4 years ago Italy had no talent but today what is the excuse? We have strong defenders, we have the best midfielders in the world, and I am sure if he chose to keep Immobile, Insigne, and Belotti away, Italy could have found the net at least once.
This is a sad moment for calcio, for Italy, for Italian supporters. I am very pissed and something decisive must happen!
Well why not play Zanilo instead of Berrardi and Locatelli instead of Jorginho ?
Locatelli was way better than Jorginho in Euro 2020
Even if they go through by beating Macedonia, they Will lose to Portugal for sure. They have to realise that their forwards are impotent and can’t score goals. Immobile who has score enormously for Lazio always fail to find net with Azzuri.
finally, his penalty miss overshadowed my legend R.Baggio’s 94 penalty miss. Thank Jorginho
The problem was the lack of goal scorers. Motivation was there. Play and pressing was there. Chances were there. But you can’t have so many chances over so many games and not score. It’s a basic that cost Italy. The whole front line needs replacing.
@Min. Great point: even legends miss penalties.
@Bukruqul. Yes, but with who? Italy has a shortage of top strikers.
@Vero Rossonero with Scamacca
The problem is the italian tax law where you get a benefit and discount of 20-25% on salaries if you bring in non-italian players… it’s disgusting and leads to teams not developing or signing promising Italian talents. And people wonder why the nazionale is struggling… fix your league tax policy and watch what happens. Also, start playing italians again.
Remember when Milan won the CL in 2006/7 with 7 starting italians? Guess what, we won that 2006 world cup… hmm, coincidence? Nope.
If missing the World Cup 4 years ago was a slap in the face, missing it this year is catastrophically worse. Jorghino seems to be carrying over a PK jinx since the Euro final that sealed Italy’s fate. I’m grateful for the role Mancini had in getting Italy their first Euro in decades. Still, the lack of goals during WC qualifying can’t be readily dismissed. Hopefully this brings about serious change…but I shouldn’t get my hopes up.
How many times are we going to rehash this? They blew it over and over, I get it. it’s like re-hashing a car accident, if only I left 2 minutes earlier. You can’t change the past. Let it go people, it was meant to be just as the Euro win was meant to be.
And in between there was a game against Lithuania, where only 3 first team players started and Italian won 5-0. Yet none of the players who were not first team regulars forced their way into Mancini’s first 11.
Quite clearly Mancini showed too much faith in certain players and they didn’t have enough competition to keep them on their toes.