Italy failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for a second consecutive time after losing 1-0 to North Macedonia in the play-off on Thursday.
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Italy failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for a second consecutive time after losing 1-0 to North Macedonia in the play-off on Thursday. Midfielder Marco Verratti has requested the fans “not to insult” Italy players who missed out on the World Cup qualification and “especially the younger members of the squad. Aleksandar Trakjowski struck the winner in stoppages to take North Macedonia through to the final of the play-off where they will face Portugal for a place in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
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#Azzurri ??
Six players have returned home as the team prepare for their trip to Turkey.
? https://t.co/pxVoXxgRiV#VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/3huAhKw9il
— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) March 26, 2022
Four-time World Champions Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia after losing to Sweden in the playoffs. It was the first time the Azzurri had missed the World Cup since 1958.
“When you win, it’s easy to thank everyone,” wrote Verratti on Instagram.
“I want to do it today after an elimination that will deny us the most wonderful and exciting competition for us players, but above all for all the Italian fans around the world.
“I want to thank everyone, staff, players and all those who work with passion and enthusiasm around the Nazionale.
“Unfortunately, in life and in football, it doesn’t always go the way your expectations, objectives and dreams had planned it.
“The disappointment is immense, but we already showed that with work, passion and heart, anything is possible. So in life or in football, just like after a great victory last summer or a huge defeat, we must continue fighting.
“Football is our passion and I am sure we’ll continue to give our all to earn more satisfying moments together.”
After the EURO 2020 triumph, Roberto Mancini’s side surprisingly went on to finish runner-up to Switzerland in the World Cup qualifying group, forcing them to play the play-offs.
“One last thing: I don’t think the best way to deal with this is to insult everyone, because each of us tried to give our all (unfortunately it wasn’t enough).
“Above all please leave the younger players alone (if you really want to, insult us ‘older’ guys, because sometimes you forget we are just people like you, normal folks, and that we too feel the biggest emotions in the smallest things).”
Italy will now play a friendly away to Turkey, the other side that lost the play-offs to Portugal 3-1, a game that neither nation will want to participate in. Verratti won’t be making the trip, as he was released early for a return to PSG, followed out of the Coverciano training camp by Jorginho, Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne, Domenico Berardi and Gianluca Mancini.
