Italy is getting closer to the 2026 World Cup
Italy beat Northern Ireland and qualified for the final play-off where they will face Bosnia and Herzegovina.
For about fifty minutes, the "ghost" of the Swedes and Macedonians haunted the Italian national team players! Then Sandro Tonali, from the edge, and Moise Kean, with a left-footed strike over the "Magpie’s" goal. Two-nil for Northern Ireland and that settles the questions: at least they are now waiting for Tuesday's draw.
Tonali
Play-offs are walking guillotines: never trust them, even if sometimes (as was the case here) the executioners and the victims shouldn't require a "Garlasco-style" forensic analysis. Of course: Oh, the result! The result! There was pressure; there was a nation that wasn't entirely pro-national team, since Gravina, aka "Slavina," moves a lot and moves many.
Gennaro Gattuso himself belongs to the breed of "bread and salami" coaches. He puts his heart into it, always.
In the FIFA rankings, Italy is 12th, and Northern Ireland is 71st. In these cases, it is memory that pushes you: just as the English shouted "Remember Stalingrad" to the linesman in the Wembley final, urging him to tell the referee that Hurst's ball had gone in (he obeyed, though it hadn't), the Azzurri played with the weight of "Remember Palermo" following Trajkovski's 0-1 lead in the 93rd minute. For a while, Bergamo supported with the handbrake on, seeing how little Dimarco was contributing, while Retegui and Kean were grabbing at crumbs, poor things, and Politano waved his left pedal in vain.
The hosts, 3-5-2. Them, 5-4-1. The Italians controlled the game (badly). Them, with questionable ball handling. Then, at the start of the second half, Retegui's mistake (my in an opponent's "scrabble") shook things up. A right-footed shot by Tonali (from a Politano blitz), Pio replaces (and overtakes) "Matteo the Arab," and Kean bombs P. Charles to double the score.
A bouquet of corners in our favor, zero risks faced. The Italian national team was fumbling in the dark. Flat, creaking, timid. Suddenly, a match was struck. And fiat lux. That, for now, is enough. Now it takes patience from the Italians, who see themselves approaching qualification for the World Cup 2026 finals after missing the last two tournaments!
It is good for you and your good morning. We, 3-5-2. Them, 5-4-1. We, controlling the game (badly). Them, with questionable ball handling. Then, at the start of the second half, Retegui's mistake—in an opponent's "scrabble"—shook things up. A right-footed shot by Tonali (from a Politano blitz), Pio replaces (and overtakes) "Matteo the Arab," and Kean bombs P. Charles to double the score.
A bouquet of corners in our favor, zero risks faced. We were fumbling in the dark. Flat, creaking, timid. Suddenly, a match was struck. And fiat lux. That, for now, is enough. World, proceed
Manos Staramopoulos
Journalist and Analyst of International Football and Affairs
Chief Editor English Zone of Discoveryfootball.com
Athens (Greece).
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