Each supporter of the Azzurri will hope their third consecutive shot at a World Cup play-off doesn’t go as badly because the earlier two. Giancarlo Rinaldi fears the omens from historical past could possibly be dangerous.
Ask any self-respecting Italian grandfather the group he would have preferred to keep away from within the World Cup play-off draw and the reply would undoubtedly have been Northern Eire. They could have been the in pot 4, however their title remains to be sufficient to ship a shiver down the backbone of those that have been following La Nazionale for seven many years or extra. Any Nonno price his salt can recall the heartache of their youth when Belfast was the burial floor for desires of creating it to Sweden in 1958.
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Recollections of play-off defeats to North Macedonia and Sweden is likely to be more energizing within the thoughts however, for generations, that catastrophe at Windsor Park was the one time Italy had didn’t make it to a World Cup. It was, on the time, seen as an unimaginable low level for the Azzurri and a humiliation to not be repeated. Heaven is aware of what they’d have fabricated from the prospect of lacking out on three international competitions in a row.
epa09847646 Italy’s ahead Domenico Berardi in motion in opposition to North Macedonia’s defender Ezgjan Alioski in the course of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 play-off qualifying soccer match between Italy and North Macedonia on the Renzo Barbera stadium in Palermo, Sicily, Italy, 24 March 2022. EPA-EFE/CARMELO IMBESI
Whereas not a direct play-off recreation, Alfredo Foni’s aspect solely wanted a attract Northern Eire to qualify however, as a substitute, went right down to defeat, which despatched their opponents by. Critics on the time lambasted the often cautious coach for choosing a surprisingly attacking aspect when he was beneath no obligation to win. There have been additionally questions raised about the usage of Oriundi – Italians born abroad – which appeared to backfire. Greater than something although, they actually ought to have identified what to anticipate, as they’d already met one another not lengthy earlier than.
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The earlier fixture – dubbed the Battle of Belfast – was performed as a pleasant as a result of referee being caught in fog. An ill-tempered affair, it ought to have ready Foni and his troops for the bodily encounter which lay in retailer. As an alternative, they have been caught chilly and slipped two targets behind and – though they’d pull one again – ended the match with 10 males and an undesirable place in historical past as the primary Italian nationwide group to fail to make it to a World Cup.
A few years have handed, after all, however there are nonetheless echoes of historical past in what awaits the Azzurri this time round. Northern Eire will, simply as they did 67 years in the past, throw the whole lot they’ve at Rino Gattuso’s aspect. If he will get his strategy and group choice as badly unsuitable as his predecessor did when travelling to Belfast then his reign as Italy boss may show a really quick one certainly.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Gamers of Italy sing the nationwide anthem previous to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
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If there may be consolation in historical past, nevertheless, it’s in the truth that this stays the one time that Membership Italia has suffered defeat in opposition to this specific opponent. With dwelling benefit, they need to be assured of progress to at the least the ultimate play-off recreation. Nonetheless, their kind has been so fragile of late that little or no may be taken without any consideration.
And what about what awaits them in the event that they do make it to a second knockout tie? We all know this will likely be an away recreation and one possibility could be a visit to Wales have a barely higher file in opposition to Italy than Northern Eire do but it surely nonetheless solely quantities to a few victories in 10 makes an attempt. Nonetheless, they’d characterize a substantial problem for the boys in blue with morale at its present ranges. Gattuso himself would have liked to enter the dragon’s lair to attempt to safe a victory as a participant – he should hope, if it finally ends up that approach, that his group is equally combative.
The opposite chance could be a journey to face Bosnia and Herzegovina – one other group to solely have crushed Italy as soon as of their historical past. They might be a barely extra acquainted problem with plenty of their gamers – most notably Edin Dzeko – presently plying their commerce within the Bel Paese. Nonetheless, they’d relish the prospect of dumping the Azzurri out of the competitors to make it to a World Cup for the second time of their historical past after making it there in 2014.
ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – OCTOBER 11: Edin Dzeko of Bosnia and Herzegovina reacts in the course of the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League A Group A3 match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany at on October 11, 2024 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photograph by Maja Hitij/Getty Photographs)
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The reality, after all, is that regardless of the Italian nationwide group’s spectacular file in opposition to all these sides up to now they’re presently a shadow of the outfit they as soon as have been. Slip-ups in opposition to unfancied opponents have turn into the order of the day as they wrestle to stay as much as the fame of a nation which has lifted the planet’s most well-known worldwide crown on no fewer than 4 events. One other summer season within the sporting wilderness feels unthinkable.
That’s the battle going through Gattuso between now and March. Can he carry again the arrogance and composure to the Italy set-up that it must brush apart the obstacles in his path? Has he bought the gamers able to standing as much as such high-pressure circumstances? Or will this era be one other one telling its grandchildren about what went unsuitable on the way in which to the USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026?