The View from Italy after the Azzurri fail to qualify for the World Cup

The World Cup will be without Italy for the second edition in a row following what has been described back home as a "humiliating" defeat to North Macedonia in the play-offs on Thursday night.

After stubborn defending repelled Italy for large spells of the contest in Palermo, the visitors capitalised in stoppage time thanks to Aleksandar Trajkovski's strike to seal a 1-0 victory.

Nine months on from triumphing at Euro 2020, the Azzurri are left to reflect on a shock loss that means they will miss a second successive World Cup, having also been absent at the 2018 edition in Russia.

Sky Italy's Valentina Fass joined Sky Sports News to discuss how the Italian media have taken this loss.

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00:00 - Italy will not be in the World Cup
00:41 - Could anyone have imagined this after Euro 2020?
01:30 - How have the media reacted?
02:40 - Jorginho says missed penalties in group stage will 'haunt him'
03:34 - Will some of the older players now retire?
04:27 - Is Mancini's future in doubt?

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[parker-iifg]

I know Italy not qualifying is a massive shock but I don't think North Macedonia got the credit they deserve. They had already won away to Germany last year, inflicting the Germans first competitive home defeat in 15 years. They also caused problems for some decent teams at the Euros and with a bit more luck they might have reached the knockout stage.
It just goes to show how quickly things can change in football. Eight months ago Italy won the Euros, Mancini was being touted as potential FIFA manger of the year and the Azzuri were seen as serious contenders to win the whole thing. Now they will miss back to back World Cup's and Mancini is on the verge of being sacked. What a crazy and unpredictable sport football is.

[tvincentmkh]

TWO straight World Cups, absolutely shocking from Italy

[quarzoazzurro]

Hello. As an Italian, I have to say that the best thing we can do is to accept the result of the field and, above all, to accept the friendly taunts that will rain down on us. Dear Englishmen, this is your moment and it is right😄😄😀 . That's football. To win you have to know how to lose . Ciao .

[FIL]

If England didn’t qualify for the World Cup, I would be so disappointed because the excitement of following your country in the World Cup is the best feeling for a nation, I sympathise with Italian fans.

[hassymiia]

In football nothing is granted when both playing high level even if one is weaker. All it takes one moment of brilliance from the weaker side. This is high level of qualification. North Macedonia didnt just get their free. Remember when Greece won Euros 2004? Exactly. It’s football. Anything possible!

[iskippedlegday]

Imagine blaming the whole thing on Jorginho. YES I know he missed 2 crucial pens, but that's no excuse for the rest to not do their job. Those who need to defend should've defended, those who attack should score some goals to prevent all this in the first place.

[kabir]

Everyone talking about Italy but not ENOUGH credit given to North Macedonia 🇲🇰
Every England fan congratulates you 🙌🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[Nufcfan]

I’m an England fan, and you would probably expect me to be all happy that Italy didn’t qualify.









*And your exactly right :)*

[tarz]

Imagine if Macedonia flattens Portugal next !!! That’d be incredible

[chilldude]

everyone in england is so happy to see this lol

[nimascolari]

1st it shouldn't have even got to this stage. 2nd they should have scored after 32 shots in 90 minutes. Mancini knew he lacked goals in his squad that's why he thought about Mario.

[nixkix]

You guys are milking this and I can't get enough 😈😈😈

[aranteen]

If this means there’ll be slightly less diving and feigning injury at the World Cup, I’m fine with that.

[JThom-yhef]

Since they won it all in 2006, they haven't been the same since. 2010 group stage exit, 2014 group stage exit, 2018 failed to qualify, 2022 failed to qualify...AGAIN!!!!

[ResoundGuy]

As an English man who remembers England failing to qualify for Euro 2008, I feel their pain.

[GB-fkeq]

Ahhh Jorginho, couldn't have happened to a more deserving footballer... 😏

[samimarei]

in the Euros i saw Italy scoring goals outside the box but now they stopped and they cant even score penalties.

[tharanidharan]

Tbf Italian fans would have been prepared that they won't be in the worldcup when there was a possibility of them losing to Portugal is on the cards but to lose to North Macedonia nobody was prepared for this disaster.

[anurags]

It was never the same for Italy in worldcup after that headbutt from Zidane

[thecodfather]

WHAT?! Are you trying to tell me that... The... The... The "3rd best football player in the world" played a pivotable part in getting Italy knocked out of the World Cup? 😂