Italy host North Macedonia in Rome on March 24 for the semi-final of the World Cup 2022 play-off and the Azzurri have the upper hand statistically.
North Macedonia qualified for the play-offs with two big wins against Armenia and Iceland in the two games in November, when Italy failed to pick up more than two points in their games against Switzerland and Northern Ireland.
Italy are again unbeaten in the qualifiers under Roberto Mancini, who helped the Azzurri pick up a perfect record in the EURO 2020 qualifiers and then guided the Nazionale to the trophy over the summer.
North Macedonia lost twice in the group stage, but stunned Germany in the first leg with a 2-1 win away from home.
The reverse fixture against the Germans ended in a 4-0 defeat and the other loss arrived in the first fixture against Romania on March 25 2021.
North Macedonia were unseeded in the draw and have to travel to the Olimpico for the semi-final of the World Cup play-offs in March 2022, and the winner will take on either Turkey or Portugal in the Final.
The two sides played against each other in the World Cup Qualifiers in 2016-17, when Italy qualified for the play-offs but didn’t succeed to book a ticket to Russia 2018.
Spain finished first in Group G of the European World Cup Qualifiers in 2016-17, when North Macedonia ended fifth out of six teams in the table.
Since then, Macedonia have participated in the European Championship 2020 and have produced great results on the road to Qatar 2022.
The last match between the two sides at the Olimpico ended in a 1-1 draw on October 10, 2017, then Giorgio Chiellini scored Italy’s goal.
The first match between the two sides in the World Cup Qualifiers for Russia 2018, ended in a 3-2 win at the Tose Proeski Arena.
Andrea Belotti scored the opener, prior to Udinese attacker Ilija Nestorovski, who then played at Palermo, scored the equaliser.
North Macedonia turned the match around through Ferhan Hasani, before Lazio star Ciro Immobile turned won Italy the game with a brace towards the end.
H2H: Italy vs. North Macedonia
North Macedonia 2-3 Italy
October 9, 2016, at Tose Proeski Arena
Goals: Belotti 24 (I), Nestorovski 57 (NM), Hasani 59 (NM), Immobile 75, 90+1 (I)
North Macedonia (5-3-2): Bogatinov; Ristovski, Mosjov, Shikov, Ristevski, Zuta (Ibraimi 46); Hasani (Trajchevski 84), Spirovski, Alioski; Pandev, Nestorovski (Petrovikj 68)
Italy (3-5-2): Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Romagnoli; Candreva, Bernardeschi (Sansone 64), Verratti, Bonaventura (Parolo 64), De Sciglio; Belotti (Eder 84), Immobile
Italy 1-1 North Macedonia
October 6, 2017, at the Stadio Olimpico
Goals: Chiellini 40 (I), Trajkovski 77 (NM)
Italy (3-4-3): Buffon; Barzagli (Rugani 46), Bonucci, Chiellini; Zappacosta, Parolo, Gagliardini (Cristante 75), Darmian; Verdi (Bernardeschi 64), Immobile, Insigne
North Macedonia (3-5-2): Dimitrievski; Ristovski, Musliu, Velkovski (Zajkov 75); Radeski, Spirovski, Hasani (Trajovski 64), Bardhi, Alioski; Pandev (Trichkovski 80), Nestorovski