Italy vs Northern Ireland – News and Probable Lineups

One team will advance to the final, while the other will miss out on another World Cup, as Northern Ireland heads to Italy for their European playoff semi-final on Thursday evening.

The victor of this tense encounter in Bergamo will then face either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina, with a chance to secure a spot in this year’s global finals.

Match overview

Italy may have celebrated four World Cup victories – the last of which was two decades ago – but even after clinching the postponed Euros in 2021, they were last seen on the world stage seven years ago.

This marks their third consecutive World Cup qualifying campaign ending in the playoffs, following disappointing defeats to Sweden and North Macedonia.

Last September, the Azzurri commenced Group I with a 3-0 loss away to Norway, which triggered the departure of former coach Luciano Spalletti; under the new guidance of Gennaro Gattuso, they achieved six consecutive victories before facing Norway again.

In need of a significant win to claim the top position – and secure direct qualification – Gattuso’s squad instead suffered another disheartening loss, as Erling Haaland struck twice in a remarkable away victory.

After noting the crowd’s furious response to that 4-1 defeat in Milan, 2006 World Cup champion Gattuso requested to stage this week’s match in nearby Bergamo, rather than at his previous home ground, San Siro.

Believing that a more intimate stadium could favor Italy, he must now guide La Nazionale through a nerve-wracking playoff match against Northern Ireland.

Aiming to avoid becoming the first former champions to miss three consecutive World Cups, the Azzurri are now set to face opponents whom they last lost to in 1958.

The teams last met five years ago, resulting in a 0-0 draw at Windsor Park, denying Italy automatic qualification for Qatar 2022 and leading to the subsequent ‘disaster‘ against North Macedonia.

Although Northern Ireland fought valiantly for that result in Belfast, they have lost on all seven previous visits to Italy with an aggregate score of 16-2, failing to score on six occasions.

Notably, they last found the net against the Azzurri in a friendly back in 1961, so historical records heavily favor the visitors as they arrive on Thursday evening.

Ultimately pursuing their first World Cup finals appearance in 40 years, Northern Ireland came close to reaching Russia 2018 but lost 1-0 on aggregate to Switzerland during the playoffs.

To advance, they must secure a victory on Italian territory before beating Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina to join co-hosts Canada, Switzerland, and Qatar in Group B.

Despite finishing third in Group A of European qualifying, having been defeated both home and away by Germany, NI qualified for these playoffs through their UEFA Nations League performance.

A decade after their spirited performance at Euro 2016, Michael O’Neill is back at the helm – while also managing Blackburn Rovers – and aims to lead a young squad all the way to North America.

However, Northern Ireland’s last three competitive away victories came against teams such as Lithuania, San Marino, and Luxembourg, while they have lost their last six travels to teams ranked in FIFA’s top 20.

Team News

As the club season heats up, Italy faces multiple injury challenges for this playoff semi-final.

In defense, Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo is out, while Alessandro Bastoni and Gianluca Mancini are nursing injuries. However, Riccardo Calafiori is available for selection after recovering from a minor issue sustained during Sunday’s EFL Cup final.

In attack, Atalanta striker Gianluca Scamacca is dealing with an adductor injury, and Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa has already withdrawn; he has been replaced by Bologna winger Nicolo Cambiaghi.

Consequently, Mateo Retegui, Moise Kean, and in-form Francesco Pio Esposito are all contending for a spot. Esposito has netted three times in his last four World Cup qualifiers and has recently scored Inter Milan’s last two league goals.

While Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali’s fitness is under observation, Northern Ireland’s Dan Ballard missed the recent Tyne-Wear derby and will also miss this pivotal match due to a hamstring injury.

Tom Atcheson – who plays under O’Neill at Blackburn – has been called up from the Under-21s for cover, but it’s more likely that any two of Ruairi McConville, Ciaron Brown, and Eoin Toal will start alongside Paddy McNair in central defense.

George Saville missed the last qualifier against Luxembourg due to suspension but is now back in the squad, along with fit-again Shea Charles and Ali McCann, plus goalkeeper Pierce Charles.

However, the visitors are missing two key full-backs: captain Conor Bradley and the experienced Jamal Lewis.

Italy probable starting XI:

Donnarumma; Calafiori, Mancini, Bastoni; Cambiaso, Tonali, Locatelli, Barella, Dimarco; Kean, Retegui

Northern Ireland probable starting XI:

P. Charles; Hume, McConville, Brown, McNair, Devenny; Saville, S. Charles, McCann; Price, Reid

Italy has only faced defeats in two home World Cup qualifiers since 1934, but nerves will remain until they find a breakthrough in Bergamo.

While Northern Ireland has an improving young squad, the Azzurri have discovered their scoring touch under Gattuso, and such offensive prowess should propel them into next week’s playoff final.