After losing at home to North Macedonia, Italy once again missed the World Cup, missing two consecutive World Cups for the first time in history. In just 9 months, Italy fell from heaven to hell.
In the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Italy ranked second in the group, in the two-legged play-off against Sweden, Italy lost 0-1 away, back at home, Italy could not score 27 shots on goal, let them regretfully bid farewell to the World Cup, Buffon cried bitterly.
The old coach Ventura became italy's outgoing sinner, and Mancini's appointment saved Italy for a time, leading the team to win the European Championship. However, after just 9 months, Mancini became a sinner. In a good situation, Italy failed to win the last two rounds of the group stage and had to play in the play-offs.
The media had thought that the play-off Group C would be a showdown between Italy and Portugal, but no one expected that Italy, with its natural and geographical advantages, would repeat the same mistakes.
With 32 shots on goal, Italy failed to break through the North Macedonia goal. Just when the Italian thought the game would be dragged into extra time, Trajkovski scored a long-range shot that knocked Italy out.
After missing the World Cup in Russia, Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1958, ending the magical record of 14 consecutive appearances in the big competition. Two consecutive World Cups have stopped qualifying, the first time in Italy's history. You know, this is only the fourth time they have missed the World Cup.
Following Buffon in 2018, the failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup means that veterans such as Chiellini and Bonucci can no longer appear on the Stage of the World Cup. Missing the World Cup for two consecutive years, Italy has encountered a real spell.