The Northern Irish put sticks in the wheels of the great power’s World Cup hopes.
Northern Ireland – Italy 0-0
Norway rolled over Northern Ireland away for about a year back in time, something the reigning European champion Italy was far from doing on Monday.
Roberto Mancini’s star gallery delivered a shockingly tame performance in Belfast, without creating the great chances against a Northern Ireland that had nothing to play for.
Switzerland did the job against Bulgaria and won comfortably 3-0, which was enough to sneak the group winner and thus a direct place to next year’s World Cup.
– It could be a black November for this summer’s great champions. They create nothing against Northern Ireland, says TV 2’s Peder Mørtvedt about Italy’s performance.
Also read:van Dijk with a clear message about Haaland before the meeting with Norway
– A bad night
This summer’s European Championship was the only big boost for the Italians when they defeated England after a penalty shootout in the final, and they stood with four wins and three draws in this year’s qualification before the match in Belfast.
However, it did not hold that Mancini’s team went undefeated through the group stage, because Switzerland won its match against Bulgaria and tops with that group, two points ahead of Italy.
– This will eventually be a bad night in Northern Ireland for Roberto Mancini. It is a short way from heaven to hell, it came from Mørtvedt.
How quickly the mighty can fall. The European Champions go into the jeopardy of the play-offs. We can’t have another World Cup without Italy. We just can’t.
— Gary Lineker ???? (@GaryLineker) November 15, 2021
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