European champion Italy will miss the World Cup. Again.
The unthinkable happened in Palermo when the Azzurri were beaten 1-0 by North Macedonia following a last-gasp goal by Aleksandar Trajkovski in their play-off semifinal.
Trajkovski scored with a shot from outside the area in what was North Macedonia’s only real opportunity after a completely dominant performance by Italy, having missed a number of chances and having several others saved by visiting goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.
Italy also failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup after losing to Sweden in a two-legged playoff. Missing two straight World Cups is an unprecedented low point for the four-time champion, especially just months after winning Euro 2020.
North Macedonia will play Portugal on Tuesday for a spot in the tournament in Qatar after Cristiano Ronaldo’s side beat Turkey 3-1. Euro 2020 is the only major tournament North Macedonia has qualified for.
Roberto Mancini was missing a number of players that helped Italy win the European Championship last summer and had to field a makeshift defence, but it was barely troubled by North Macedonia until the very end.
Italy got off to an aggressive start but struggled to find a way past the wall of red shirts.
The Azzurri were gifted a great chance in the 30th minute after a horrendous kick from the North Macedonia goalkeeper left Domenico Berardi with an open goal but he scuffed his shot and Dimitrievski got back in time to make the save.
Dimitrievski did better moments later when he finger-tipped Ciro Immobile’s angled shot over the bar.
Italy was getting closer and Dimitrievski had to make another save, this time to palm Lorenzo Insigne’s effort around the post.
North Macedonia had its first attempt on goal on the stroke of half-time when Enis Bardi threaded a ball through for Aleksandar Trajkovski but his effort was straight at Giangluigi Donnarumma.
Berardi almost atoned for his first-half error early in the second period but saw one attempt well saved by Dimitrievski and curled another just past the left post.
Italy was laying siege to the goal but saw everything charged down by North Macedonia.
And it was made to pay for its profligacy in stoppage time as Trajkovski fired a low shot into the bottom left corner from 25 yards, leaving Mancini looking stunned on the sideline.
Wales keeps dream alive on the back of Bale screamers
Gareth Bale demonstrated his enduring value for Wales by scoring two goals — including a sensational free kick — in a 2-1 win over Austria, leaving his country one victory away from a first World Cup in 64 years.
A peripheral figure at Real Madrid this season, Bale continues to deliver for Wales and his double in the play-off semifinal at Cardiff City Stadium took his record all-time goal tally for the national team to 38.
Surely he hasn’t scored a better one than the 25th-minute free kick with his left foot that soared over the defensive wall and swerved just inside the near post, almost off the underside of the crossbar.
His second strike was of the highest quality, too, as Bale met a low cross into the penalty area with a touch and — while facing away from goal — a rising shot on the turn that flew into the far corner.
Marcel Sabitzer's 64th-minute effort, which deflected in off the outstretched boot of Wales defender Ben Davies, gave Austria hope but the Welsh held on as they closed in on a second appearance at a World Cup, and a first since 1958.
Wales will host either Scotland or Ukraine — the other two teams in Path A of the playoffs — for a place in the tournament in Qatar in November and December. Their semifinal match was postponed until June because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The final is also scheduled for that month.
Bale linked up with his Wales teammates this week having only played about 80 minutes of club football since August.
He was substituted in stoppage time to a standing ovation against Austria.
