The 2022 World Cup draw takes place today, but it will not involve Italy, who were eliminated from the play-offs. Here’s how the Azzurri missed out on their second successive World Cup.
Roberto Mancini’s boys won’t defend their European champions status in November when Qatar 2022 begins. The Azzurri finished their qualification group as runners-up behind Switzerland, drawing both games against Murat Yakin’s side.
Not only Jorginho’s penalty kicks: the errors that led to Italy’s World Cup fiasco
Both Italy and Switzerland finished the group stage unbeaten. Italy picked up four draws and four wins (16 points), Switzerland collected five victories and three draws (18 points).
Both countries conceded two goals, but Switzerland scored two more than the Azzurri (15 to 13). Jorginho’s penalty kick errors against Switzerland in Basel and Rome have been seen as the main reason the Azzurri didn’t qualify, but many other mistakes affected the Euro 2020 champions.
They were later drawn into a group with North Macedonia, Portugal and Turkey and paired with the Macedonians in the play-offs semi-finals. Despite dominating the game in Palermo last week, managing 32 shots, the hosts won the game thanks to a late Aleksandar Trajkovski’s goal. It was North Macedonia’s second shot on target and Italy’s first defeat in the qualification phase.
The Azzurri had never missed out on two consecutive World Cups and FIFA executive member Evelina Christillin has denied reports that they could be recalled in place of Iran.
What is this, torture? As if we need a reminder…
I think you are right Milan Fan. FI just keep saying the same thing. We have missed it for the 2nd time but so did England in 1974, 1978 and 1994 so all teams do get some bad luck at some point. It will not be the same without Italy at the WC22. FIFA have lost out a lot just as much as we have. Lets just get on with it and prepare to defend the European crown. FI can say what they want but at the end of the day, WE ARE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS end of.
Sad I follow Italy since 1994 but that’s sad they haven’t qualified for the World cup twice in succession. I have seen all the games after Italy won Euro 2020. I think few players to blame for their failure but Mancini choices were not good either. Florenzi and Emerson on the wings were terrible. They are not good enough to play for Italy. Florenzi who is not a first choice for Milan and similarly Emerson was third best left back at Chelsea. Biraghi is better choice but unfortunately not given a chance.
I m The Azzuri s fan for the last 40 years. I even didnt watch the last WC ( except the final game) as I couldn’t bear a WC without Italy. Missing two WC in a rows is really distratous. This can only be redeem by winning the next WC and in the same time retained the Euro. Hope we can make it really big after this distratous failure…..Forza Italia