A stunning stoppage time winner from Aleksandar Trajkvosky in the second minutes of the added time saw Italian team miss the World Cup for the second successive time. After a frustrating 90 mins play which saw a composed Northern Macedonian side put up a beautiful defensive display against Italy who is ranked 6th best national team in the world.
The failure of Italy to qualify for world cup has set Roberto Mancini's future in dilemma as the Italian FA are considering to offload him despite his achievements and honours with the Italian tean for the past 12 years. The Italian team has only lost Two of their last 60 qualification games, currently the reigning Champions of European Football, a team with a mixed crop of players with prolific midfield presence. A close look into Italian team indicates the extent of sqard depth with notable names in the likes of World's finest midfielder in Jorginho, attacking midfielders in Chiesa, Lorenzo Pellegrini and clinical finisher Insigne. Of course you cannot talk about the Italian team without emphazesz on the Italian defence composed of experienced defenders in Bunucci and Giorgio Chiellini in the heart of the defense.
No one saw this coming playing when the Italian side fall to secure wins in games against, they failing to convert penalties in both home and away game against Switzerland and conceding a silly goal for a draw against Bulgaria. Winning these games would have seen Italy cruz into the World Cup, yet again a win in any of the three draws would have still had Italy qualify for World Cup after missing out last time.
At what looked like a stall game heading to penalties the last grasp at stoppage time saw the unthinkable as Northern Macedonia ranked 67 in the world edged pass Italy, indeed its been a big fall for the European champions. Football has always had its odds and shocks, the fall of Italy isn't an exception as we look out for absolute stunners ahead of the World cup.