BELFAST. Italy slams Northern Ireland and will have to struggle again for the 2022 World Cup pass in Qatar. Mancini’s men did not go beyond 0-0 in Belfast and, together with the victory of Switzerland against Bulgaria, they lost the primacy of group C on the last day, forcing themselves once again to the play-offs. Many goals were needed to remove all sorts of anxiety, but the light trident with a false nine chosen by the blue coach does not have the desired effects.
Northern Ireland respond with a five-man defense in the non-possession phase that harnesses the ball-to-ground patterns of the European champions. Several, therefore, the throws in depth behind the defenders, especially in the right lane: it is Di Lorenzo who builds the first danger from the parts of Peacock-Farrell, reactive in smanacciare a cross that risked mocking him on the far post. For the rest of the first half, the home defender is called into question only by shots from distance by Barella or Insigne, central and not powerful enough.
The teams return to the locker room at 0-0, in the second half immediately in Cristante for Tonali (yellow card after a few minutes) but to get out better from the blocks is Northern Ireland: the first ring is from Saville, forgotten at the height of the spot, but Donnarumma responds present.
While Switzerland is released in Lucerne and puts pressure on Italy, Chiesa sends to the bottom with his left and Mancini plays the Belotti card. But the spark does not come, not even with the insertions of Bernardeschi and Locatelli, as well as that of Scamacca in the 80 ‘. The clock runs inexorably, in the pit of Belfast the organization of Baraclough’s men holds up to the triple whistle: for Italy the run-up to the World Cup is not yet over.