Italy misses 2nd straight World Cup, Portugal beat Turkey to edge nearer to qualification

Italy has gone from successful the European Championship to failing to qualify for the World Cup in simply eight months.

In a fast and gorgeous fall from grace, the Azzurri had been upset by North Macedonia in a 1-0 loss that headlined an evening of drama within the European qualifying playoffs on Thursday.

Italy will miss out on back-to-back World Cups for the primary time within the nationwide group’s storied historical past, having additionally didn’t get to the event in 2018.

It was solely in July that Roberto Mancini and his gamers had been celebrating successful Euro 2020 at Wembley Stadium, supposedly finishing Italian soccer’s redemption story.

On Thursday, there have been tears of a distinct sort, and a basic feeling of disbelief contained in the Stadio Renzo Barbera in Palermo.

“Just as last July was the best thing I experienced at a professional level, this is the greatest disappointment,” Mancini stated. “Soccer is like that, sometimes incredible things happen.”

The winner for North Macedonia, which hasn’t performed on the World Cup since gaining independence from the previous Yugoslavia in 1991, got here within the second minute of stoppage time from Aleksandar Trajkovski’s low shot into the nook from outdoors the realm.

NORTH MACEDONIA!!! ONE OF THE GREAT UPSETS OF ALL TIME 🤯

AS IT STANDS, ITALY ARE OUT OF THE WORLD CUP! pic.twitter.com/DBRBcUhZC5

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 24, 2022

It sparked wild scenes of jubilation among the many North Macedonian gamers, who additionally beat Germany away virtually a yr in the past to the day.

Standing of their approach in Tuesday’s playoff remaining will probably be one other of Europe’s main soccer nations, Portugal, which beat Turkey 3-1 to maintain alive Cristiano Ronaldo’s hopes of showing in what’s more likely to be his remaining World Cup.

MISSED PENALTY

From a commanding place at 2-0, Portugal almost noticed its lead disappear after conceding a aim to Burak Yılmaz within the sixty fifth after which a penalty with 5 minutes remaining on the Estádio do Dragão.

Yilmaz’s spot kick sailed over the crossbar, although, that means the Portuguese had been in a position to keep away from one other late implosion like in November after they let in a Ninetieth-minute aim in opposition to Serbia to drop into the playoffs.

Portugal went on to attain once more in stoppage time, by means of substitute Matheus Nunes. Otávio and Diogo Jota had scored the first-half objectives for the hosts, who will begin as large favorites in opposition to North Macedonia.

Ronaldo is hoping to achieve a tenth straight main event.

BALE BRILLIANCE

Ronaldo’s former teammate at Real Madrid, Gareth Bale, is also on the World Cup after inspiring Wales to a 2-1 win over Austria and leaving his nation one victory away from a primary look on the event since 1958.

Bale scored each of Wales’ objectives at Cardiff City Stadium, a sensational free kick into the highest nook within the twenty fifth and a strong shot on the flip within the 51st.

His document aim tally for Wales moved to 38 and he continues to ship inspirational performances for his nation, at a time when his membership profession has stagnated in his ninth season at Madrid.

Wales will host both Scotland or Ukraine within the playoff remaining in June. Their semifinal match was postponed till that month on account of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

IBRAHIMOVIC’S DREAM ALIVE

Robin Quaison stored alive Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s hopes of enjoying in one other World Cup for Sweden.

With the suspended Ibrahimovic watching on, Quaison got here off the bench and scored within the a hundred and tenth minute as Sweden beat the Czech Republic 1-0 after further time to advance to the ultimate within the different qualifying bracket.

Sweden will journey to play Poland on Tuesday for a spot within the event in Qatar.

Poland obtained a bye to the playoff remaining after its scheduled opponent, Russia, was thrown out of qualifying following the battle in Ukraine.