All eyes are on Bergamo as the Italian national team aims to avoid another disaster in its football journey when hosting Northern Ireland in the semi-finals of the European playoff for the 2026 World Cup.
Italy finds itself forced to enter the European playoff for the third consecutive time after failing to qualify from its group, hoping that the scenarios of the 2018 and 2022 editions do not repeat, when it missed the finals in Russia and Qatar.
Match Details
Italy lost in the 2018 playoff against Sweden 0-1 away in the first leg and drew 0-0 in the return leg, marking its absence from the tournament for the first time since 1966. Additionally, it fell in the semi-finals of the European playoff for the 2022 edition at home against North Macedonia 0-1, in the second minute of stoppage time.
In the current qualifiers, Italy finished second after losing both home and away matches against the Norwegian team led by Erling Haaland, forcing it to enter the playoff. The last encounter between Italy and Northern Ireland was during the qualifiers for the previous finals, where Italy won 2-0 at home and drew 0-0 away.
Context and Background
Since winning its fourth World Cup title in 2006, Italy has experienced significant disappointments in the finals, exiting in the group stage in both the 2010 and 2014 editions, followed by failing to qualify for the last two editions. Despite winning the European Championship in the summer of 2021, this seemed merely a temporary revival, as it was followed by the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
If Italy manages to confirm its superiority over Northern Ireland, it will play in the final of the path away from home next Tuesday against Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Pressure and Consequences
The Italian national team faces immense pressure in its quest to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 2014. After lifting the trophy in 2006, its World Cup record has been disappointing, with consecutive exits from the group stage and a complete absence from the 2018 and 2022 editions. To avoid another setback, the Azzurri must overcome Northern Ireland in Bergamo.
Italy's coach, Gennaro Gattuso, confirmed that the pressure is natural, emphasizing the importance of this match. Meanwhile, legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon acknowledged that the players feel the skepticism of the public, but he expressed confidence in the team's ability to handle the pressure.
Impact on the Arab Region
This match holds special significance for football fans in the Arab world, as many closely follow the developments of major European teams. Italy's success in qualifying could rekindle hope among its fans in the region, while its failure would reflect the challenges faced by big teams in the world of football.
In conclusion, it remains to be seen what this encounter will yield and whether Italy will succeed in overcoming the obstacles it faces in its quest to return to the global stage.