Heartache for Italy and this time it’s not coming Rome after the ultimate humiliation of a 1-0 World Cup play-off defeat at home to North Macedonia. Despite instinct, some connected to England will have little to cheer, even if one major contender to lift the Jules Rimet Trophy at Qatar 2022 has been cleared. Instead, minds drift to last summer’s Euro 2020 final defeat and what might have been.
A home final for a first major piece of silverware since 1966, slipped away against what will forever be known as this Italy. An Italy capable of the spectacular but ultimately deeply flawed after a second consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup, sandwiching that fateful night for the Three Lions at Wembley.
