Board 8 > Italy, the Euro 2020 champions, have just failed to qualify for the World Cup

(+) Yeah! (+)

Having lost their qualifying group to Switzerland late last year, Italy needed to win two play-off matches to reach the World Cup later this year. They lost the first play-off to North Macedonia 0-1 after conceding a goal in the closing minutes of the game. Had Italy won, they would have went up against Portugal in the second qualifier match.

This marks the second consectutive World Cup Italy have failed to qualify for (having missed out in 2018 to Sweden). Given they were the winners of the Euros last year, that is an absolutely unbelievable stat.

not ready for the world stage

world champions North Macedonia incoming

It's a shame Macedonia have gone away to Italy, beaten them and are now rewarded with another away trip against Portugal. Can't see them doing the same again but would be nice to see them complete the fairy tale.

This is pretty impressive.

Holy hell Italy outshot them 32-4 and outcornered them 16-0. They had more fouls though, surprisingly.

..But Italy only had 5 of those 32 shots actually go on net, and that's a horrendous percentage.

The game that put them into this predicament to begin with was a scoreless tie against... Northern Ireland.

Italy must have issues with the North.

After seeing the video, I get the feeling that the goaltender simply wasn't ready for that shot and reacted a little late as a result.

Crescent-Moon posted...

Italy must have issues with the North.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ62SbiImdo

oh ya go my portugal

and go my canada tonight

lol Donnarumma screwing up 3 big matches in a row

Just stings even more because England could have won that stupid final.

Pokewars posted...

Just stings even more because England could have won that stupid final.

We had a dream draw two tournaments in a row and blew it. Can't see us ever getting another chance like that.

They're staying in Rome

Bale's brilliance has the Welsh one home win away from the World Cup finals. Incredible.

Crescent-Moon posted...

The game that put them into this predicament to begin with was a scoreless tie against... Northern Ireland.

It was more than just that. Twice against Switzerland they had penalties that could've given them the three points on the night. Twice they missed, and ended up drawing. A lot of things had to go wrong for Italy to miss the World Cup, and almost all of them did.

Luv 2 see it.

ExThaNemesis posted...

Bale's brilliance has the Welsh one home win away from the World Cup finals. Incredible.

I genuinely never thought I would see us qualify for a World Cup after the 2000s and early 2010s. Poland and Wales potentially both getting in the same one would have me in pieces.

Such a shame

Like I'm genuinely so devastated that Chiellini won't be performing at the World Cup. It really sucks.

lol soccer

davidponte posted...

and go my canada tonight

Not the run. ;_;

Canada drops their first chance to stamp their automatic ticket. A draw tonight would've done it. Mexico and the USA both inched closer with a bore-draw. But the biggest thing was Panama blowing a MASSIVE opportunity. They were against bottom feeders Honduras and with the above draw mentioned they had a big chance to put some pressure on USA/Mexico. Instead, all they could do was get a draw, which meant Costa Rica's victory over Canada let them LEAP FROG Panama into 4th to get into the spot for the last chance play-off (and also sets them 3 points back of Mexico/USA).

2 automatic spots and one play-off spot left with four teams fighting over them. It's all up for grabs over the last two matches.

It's 3 and 1. And Canada has qualified already, assuming they don't blow an 11 goal differential lead over Costa Rica in 2 games.

So basically the only way the US misses the world cup is a 2018 tier implosion?

It'd be even worse than 2018 - they'd have to lose their last 2 and Panama would have to beat Canada

That said, Canada only needs one point from its remaining two games (v. Jamaica and @ Panama) to punch their ticket to Qatar.

If the USA beats Panama, they ensure that they (And Mexico) are at least making the last chance play-off.

However, if they lose to Panama and Costa Rica beats El Salvador, things would start to look EXTREMELY uncomfortable for them going into the last day. USA and Costa Rica would both be on 22 points with Panama behind them at 21. There are a ton of ways for it to go WAY south for the US.

Mexico has by far the easiest run in over the last two. They can guarantee at least the play-off with a win over lowly Honduras in their next match but even a point from a draw would set them up only needing a win at home against El Salvador to lock up automatic qualification. 4 points for Mexico (and for the USA) gets them automatic qualification.

Costa Rica and Panama can make things interesting but they both are realistically looking at the last chance play-off. Panama have to be feeling heartbroken over their missed opportunity today. They should've beaten Honduras.

MrSmartGuy posted...

It's 3 and 1. And Canada has qualified already, assuming they don't blow an 11 goal differential lead over Costa Rica in 2 games.

Yeah that's why I said only 2. Canada realistically has one locked up.

Crescent-Moon posted...

So basically the only way the US misses the world cup is a 2018 tier implosion?

Honestly for both them and Mexico it would be a disaster to have to go to the last chance play-off at this point from their position. They can do everyone else a huge favor by NOT losing to Panama. I honestly think a point would be great depending on what Costa Rica do.

If they lose to Panama though, all hell will have truly broken loose, especially because Canada could have feasibly secured their place in the finals by then and not have a reason to field as strong of a team against them on the last day.

Actually the US are automatically through with two points no matter what Costa Rica does in their next game. The only problem is having to play in Costa Rica, very tough place to go and play.

They should've nailed it down tonight with the chances they had. Jackass Pulisic fires right at Ochoa, and the less said about the Pefok chance the better.

Isn't the US historically pretty bad at Mexico though

As cool as it is for Northern Macedonia to have made it this far, I really don't want them to go through at Portugal's expense. This is gonna be Ronaldo's last World Cup and they should've already been through. That abhorrent non-goal call in their match against Serbia will loom SO LARGE if they don't make it.

Crescent-Moon posted...

Isn't the US historically pretty bad at Mexico though

Yeah but it was there for the taking tonight with the Azteca basically empty. Massive opportunity missed.

Sheep007 posted...

I genuinely never thought I would see us qualify for a World Cup after the 2000s and early 2010s. Poland and Wales potentially both getting in the same one would have me in pieces.

It's s shame that if we qualify it'll be at the expense of Scotland or especially Ukraine

I have a feeling Ukraine will qualify. They'll have that extra fire after what's happened to them lately.

Yarmalenko has been playing like a man possessed so I believe it

"Ya go my North Macedonia"

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/2/7/4/AAKKwUAADEHK.jpg

Great to see Canada qualify. Who knows with a kind draw they could even make the last 16.

Costa Rica with 3 points to keep things interesting in the Concacaf qualifiers.

U.S. doing what it needs to do against Panama. Gotta play a good 2nd half too, at the very least to just keep that goal differential with Costa Rica as high as possible.

4-0, wow.

Nice work USA.

Makes the tie against Costa Rica MUCH less nervy and I'm sure Costa Rica appreciates this because it locks up 4th at worst for them.

Canada best team in the continent oh ya

The world cup:

The only time Americans pretend to care a little about the sport.

Which middle of the pack Euro team takes the US out in the quarterfinals?

we would all be very impressed if the US made the quarter finals this time I reckon

Wait no the start of the elimination stage isn't the quarters I meant the first elimination game

Late but oh ya go my Japan qualified like a week ago

Unless you're a joke team i'd say most have a reasonable shout of a last 16 spot given a good draw. I think Qatar will struggle though given the way the draw is done by rank now. I think the pot 2 and 3 teams might be too much for them because they can't draw another Asian team.

davidponte posted...

Canada best team in the continent oh ya

Feels so weird, like where did this strength come from? Though I remember our never getting to the final qualifying round due to Honduras three straight times in the 2010s, so we finally got over that hump I guess.

Canada has been rolling, with the only blemish being the 0-1 defeat to Costa Rica, otherwise, it's been one heck of a run for them. In the last 13 games, 23 goals scored, with only 6 conceded. Not to mention two big wins really put them over as well: 2-1 vs. Mexico* and 2-0 vs. USA.

*I actually watched that game on TV in November. Sure, I had to watch the game on a Spanish channel, but it was worth the craziness to see Canada take down Mexico in a World Cup Qualifier [from the weather report before the game started, that was a cold night in Canada], and at the time, put them ahead of USA by 1 point to top the qualification table with 16 points.

As it stands, Canada had to play through all three rounds, and after 19 games, they are:

14W-4D-1L

Well done Canada, and congrats on the World Cup Qualification!

Now let's see if USA can finish the job against Costa Rica on March 30, or at least not lose by +6 goals, which is the only defeat scenario they have, after the 5-1 victory over Panama yesterday.

If the US somehow lets that happen, outright disband the team and stop pretending to care about the sport forever.