Major shock as European champions Italy fail to qualify for World Cup

In a major upset, European champions Italy have failed in their bid to reach the World Cup... again.

They were beaten 1-0 by North Macedonia in a play-off semi-final to qualify for the tournament, which takes place in Qatar from 21 November.

Aleksandar Trajkovski scored a last-gasp goal for North Macedonia.

It was North Macedonia’s only real opportunity after a completely dominant performance by Italy, which missed a number of chances and had several others saved by visiting goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.

Overall, Italy had 32 shots on goal, compared to just four for its opponent.

But, just like five years ago, at the final whistle the Italian players fell to the ground in disbelief and disappointment — with several of them in tears — as the opposition celebrated wildly.

Italy also failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup after losing to Sweden in a two-legged playoff the previous November. Missing two straight World Cups is an unprecedented low point for the four-time champion, especially just months after winning Euro 2020.

“I'm proud of my teammates, we are all destroyed and broken but we have to start again,” Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini said. "At the moment it's difficult to talk about it, it will remain a great hole.

“I hope that the coach will stay because he is essential for this team. Now we have to return to winning, go to the Euros and in four years' time return to this blessed World Cup.”

But Roberto Mancini, who took over as Italy coach after the last qualifying failure, said on Thursday that the disappointment “was too great to talk about the future”.

“I feel that just as last July was the best thing I experienced at a professional level, this is the greatest disappointment,” Mancini added.

North Macedonia will