Switzerland Qualified World Cup 2022, Italy again head to WCup playoffs, best stats.
Italy was held to 0-0 at Northern Ireland in its final World Cup qualifier on Monday, while Switzerland beat Bulgaria 4-0 to clinch top spot in Group C and a place in next year’s tournament in Qatar.
Italy and Switzerland went into their final qualifiers level on points but with the Azzurri leading Switzerland 11-9 on goal difference, the first tiebreaker.
And they struggled to carve out opportunities against a Northern Ireland side that proved deft at closing down spaces.
Things appeared bright when Italy created an early opportunity with an inspired pass from Lorenzo Insigne to Giovanni Di Lorenzo, who tried to chip Bailey Peacock-Farrell but his effort was tipped away by the goalkeeper.
Italy finally created a good chance in the 63rd minute but it was squandered when Federico Chiesa curled an effort past the right post.
The Azzurri grew more desperate and nervous and were almost caught out at the back in the final moments.
1 -- European champion Italy it’s the playoffs again. Italy lost a playoff to Sweden in 2017 — Azzurri also failed to qualify for the Russia 2018 World Cup.2 -- Italy had also never won in Belfast, managing just two draws and a defeat in 1958.
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