In Belfast in 90 minutes the qualification in Qatar is decided
Northern Ireland-Italy, follow the game minute by minute
Switzerland-Bulgaria, follow the live
First minutes at Windsor Park in Belfast with the Azzurri who tried with Insigne and Berardi to scare the Irish. The best chance of Di Lorenzo launched on the right, his shot was blocked for a corner by the goalkeeper when Berardi and Chiesa were positioned in the area. Hosts who defend themselves well but play openly and on the restart force Tonali to a tactical foul and then a yellow card.
The pressure of the Azzurri, always in possession of the ball, continues after twenty minutes of play with attempts by Insigne who does not hook into the area and Barella who tries from 25 meters, an easy save by the goalkeeper. Meanwhile, between Switzerland and Bulgaria the result is still 0-0. The Azzurri are missing a heavy striker in the area, so they try from outside with Insigne or with sorties in the area, but the Irish defenders always manage to close.
Obsessive ball turn by the Azzurri who, however, did not find the numerical superiority to free a man in the area: at half an hour Chiesa wedged himself in the area but the shot was rejected by the goalkeeper. Following Berardi-Insigne they go away three against two, then the Napoli striker gets lost in dribbling in the area allowing the goalkeeper to be rejected. Roberto Mancini preaches patience to his team, but the ball must be spun with more speed to open gaps in the grim Irish defense. We go to the break without goals with our ball possession of 67 percent, 5 corners and as many shots on goal. In the other match, the result was always a tie, with the Swiss hitting a post at the end.
Winning well to return to the world championships, nine years after those in Brazil: this is the mission of the Azzurri who take to the field at Windsor Park in Belfast, against Northern Ireland. The coach Mancini lined up Tonali and Berardi from the first minute, out of Locatelli and Belotti.
These are the official formations:
Italy (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Acerbi, Emerson; Tonali, Jorginho, Barella; Berardi, Insigne, Church.
northern Ireland (4-1-4-1): Peacock-Farrell; Cathcart, Flanagan, J. Evans, Lewis; S. Davis; Dallas, McCann, Saville, White; Magennis.
In the last match of group C, the Azzurri must defend the first place to snatch the pass for Qatar 2022. Winning may not be enough in the event of a goleada from Switzerland which simultaneously hosts Bulgaria. If they both win, Italy has two goals ahead in goal difference and must be careful not to be caught because in that case the Swiss would prevail for the away goal scored in the direct match. The Italian national team has never won in Northern Ireland and there is the nefarious precedent of the only defeat of 15 January 1958, which cost them the failure to qualify for the World Cup in Sweden.
But let’s look a little more in detail at what could happen tonight in the double comparison:
The criteria for those who reach equal points are, first of all, the best overall goal difference (the current situation sees Italy at +11 and Switzerland at +9) and immediately afterwards the highest number of goals scored in the group (13 against11 in favor of Azzurri). Then the points obtained, the goal difference and the goals scored in the matches between the teams on equal points, but being everything in balance it is the last parameter that condemns us: the goals scored away between the teams concerned are worth double. And here the Azzurri fall, with the goal conceded on 11 ‘at the Olimpico by Widmer on Friday night. The Fair Play ranking, the last criterion, is offside at this point.
The casuistry remains infinite. Italy passes if they win in Belfast and Switzerland does not win or does so with a maximum difference of one goal more than the Azzurri: at that point it would be 18 points each, and Italy ahead by one goal in goal difference. With two draws still ahead Italy, as mentioned, because the current situation would have crystallized. in less. But there is also the possibility of absolute parity: for example, if the two teams win respectively 1-0 and 3-0, at that point the goal difference would also be in perfect balance (14-2 and 14-2): the the first valid criterion would therefore be the away goal in the direct match, which favors Switzerland. Another case in point: Italy wins 2-1, Switzerland 3-0, the Azzurri pass for the highest number of goals scored with the same goal difference.
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