have won the competition more times.
In contrast, North Macedonia have
neverqualifiedforaWorldCup,and
at their first major tournament – last
summer’s Euro 2020 finals – they
were eliminated from their group
with zero points.
Another of the new national
sides to emerge from the break-up of
Yugoslavia in the early ’90s, the North
Macedonia team that played against
Italy in Palermo comprised players who
earn their weekly crust in places such
as Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Moldova,
Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia and
Spain, but none in the country they
were representing.
So, how did this motley crew of
migrant Macedonians end up beating
themightyItaly,awayfromhomeina
full house Favorita stadium in Palermo?
What is more, the Macedonians were
without arguably two of their most
influential players of recent seasons- Parma veteran Goran Pandev (now
retired from international football) and
Napoli star Eljif Elmas (suspended).
Football commentators, Italian
federation boffins andAzzurrifans
will all now have plenty of time to think
over that question. If and when Italy
go on to qualify for the 2026 World
Cup, their return will mark a12-year
absence from world football’s premier
national team competition.
In many ways, Italy’s elimination
represents a classic perfect storm
of negative incidents in which the
good fortune that stood by them
last summer (remember Austria’s
disallowed goal in their second round
2-1 defeat to Italy?) deserted them.
In the lead-up to this disaster, clearly,
themostobviousillfortuneconcerned
midfielderJorginho, whose missed
penalties in both of the two qualifying
group clashes with their major group
rivals Switzerland proved disastrous.
The second of those, in November,
came in they dying moments of
the game. Had it been converted,
qualification would have already
been assured.
Those two draws left Italy needing a
win against Northern Ireland in Belfast
in their final group game, hoping that
in the meantime Switzerland might trip
up at home to Bulgaria. However, it was
the Italians who tripped up, deservedly
heldtoagoallessdrawbyagritty
Northern Ireland while the Swiss
romped all the way to Qatar with
a 4-0 thrashing of Bulgaria.Huge upset...North
Macedonia celebrate
their shock victory as
dejected Italy players
bow their heads