Italy misses consecutive World Cups after shock loss to North Macedonia

 

Jorginho's reaction tells the whole story after Italy's shock loss to North Macedonia on Thursday night. (Photo credit: UEFA)

For the second consecutive edition, Italy will not be participating in the FIFA World Cup after a shock semifinal loss to North Macedonia on home soil on Thursday night.

The European champions lost 1-0 at a packed Stadio Renzo Barbera. Trajkovski scored deep into added time to condemn Roberto Mancini and the Azurris to an unprecedented defeat which ultimately means the tiny European nation has a chance to feature at their first ever World Cup at the end of the year.

Elsewhere on the night, Sweden needed extra time to dump Czech Republic out of the tournament following a goalless 90 minutes in which Czech did themselves proud.

Substitute Robin Quaison scored the only goal of the encounter with just ten minutes remaining on the clock. Sweden will face Wales to determin who qualifies for the Qatar World Cup after Gareth Bale led the Welsh side to a 2-1 win over Austria.

The Austrians gave a good fight but left it too late before fighting their battles as a goal either side of the two halves ended their dreams. Gareth Bale lofted a brilliant free kick in the first half to give Wales the lead after Harry Wilson was hacked down close to the Austrian box.

Early in the second half, the Real Madrid man found the net again to double the team in red’s advantage and Marko Aurnatovic should have levelled moments before that.

Marcel Sabitzer beat Wayne Hennessy in the Welsh goal to half the deficit just after the hour mark and the team in black threw caution to the wind with series of attack on the Welsh area but Robert Page’s side survived the siege and booked a place in Tuesday’s final.

Portugal beat Turkey in the other game of the night 3-1 at the Estadio De Dragao to book a place in the final against giant killers North Macedonia. Porto winger Otavio sent the home side in front earlier on in the game with a fine finish to beat Urgucan Cakir at his near post before Diogo Jota doubled the advantage at the tail end of the half.

Turkey pulled one back through Burak Yilmaz midway into the second half but he soon became the villain towards the tail end of the game as he missed a penalty that would have sent the game into extra time where it would be anyone’s game.

Mattheus Luiz ended the conversation deep into added time having been set up by AC Milan winger Rafael Leao to make it 3-1.