Home » Italy draws with Switzerland: qualification for the World Cup is increasingly uphill

Italy draws with Switzerland: qualification for the World Cup is increasingly uphill

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Jorginho missed a penalty two minutes from time. The Azzurri will have to win in Northern Ireland with more goals to hope to overtake the Swiss in goal difference

ROME. The carriage has not become pumpkin again (not yet, at least) but the spell that had brought Mancini’s Italy to the football throne of Europe seems to have vanished. Back in that Olympic stadium that had launched their run-up to the continental title, the Azzurri draw in comeback (Di Lorenzo’s goal) 1-1 with Switzerland, make a mistake with Jorginho, who had already failed in the first leg to Basel from the spot, a penalty a few minutes from the end after having risked the knockout blow for the entire first half: and now they see qualification for the World Cup in Qatar next year in danger. Anything is possible, in fact, one round from the end of the group: it will be played on Monday (Italy in Northern Ireland and Switzerland at home with Bulgaria) and the two teams are still level on points. The goal difference for Italy is +11, for Switzerland +9: it will be the decisive criterion in the event of an equal finish, before a series of discriminating factors that could condemn the second to the guillotine of play-offs that are anything but easy. . The fact is that Italy in June here in Rome had beaten the Swiss 3-0 and tonight, playing under the rhythm for a long time, they failed two match balls with a single shot: the penalty kicked badly by Jorginho, which would have given success in the direct challenge. and – virtually – qualification for the World Cup. Given the absences of Chiellini, Verratti and Immobile, holders of the European Championship, in addition to those of the potential substitutes Pellegrini and Zaniolo and the long-term resident Spinazzola, in the usual 4-3-3 form Mancini had presented Acerbi in defense, Locatelli in midfield and Belotti in the center of the offensive trident. In truth, the conditions for the Swiss coach, Yakin, are even worse: Xhaka, Elvedi, Fassnacht, Kobel, Seferovic, Embolo, Zuber, two thirds of the owners are unavailable. Yet the Swiss reserved a thrilling start to the 52,000 at the Olimpico. The blues, staid and almost amazed by the adversary’s ardor, were continually slipped into their half of the field, especially on the right. In fact, from there at 11 ‘, after Okafor’s escape awkwardly countered by Acerbi, an inviting ball backwards for Widmer who with a great right-footed shot brought his team to 1-0. It was also good for the European champions that the gap did not widen immediately afterwards, when the 21-year-old from Salzburg continued to rage and Shakiri repeatedly frightened Donnarumma. It’s Italy? He was playing the game without flashes and – after having only touched even on one occasion (on the 22nd minute double save by Zagaria and Sommer after shots by Jorginho and Barella) – he presaged the worst. But from the technical baggage of the coach Mancini, hopes his collaborator Gianni Vio, known in football as the wizard of dead balls, a free-kick pattern arrived in the 36th minute that sent the opposing defense into confusion. Emerson pretended to beat from a standstill on the left and instead ran away, kicked Insigne back and Di Lorenzo headed ahead of Sommer putting in the net. In the second half, the supporters of the Olimpico, which had returned to a capacity almost from good times, strengthened the spirit of the Azzurri but it was not enough because the legs were certainly less reactive than those of the Swiss, at least judging by tackles and rebounds. And so after 12 minutes Mancini replaced the useless blue Belotti with Berardi and the disappointing Locatelli with Tonali. At the center of the attack alternated Church, Insigne and Berardi. Especially the outside of the Sassuolo gave a bit of brilliance and some inviting space to the asphyxiated blue maneuver. A high shot from Emerson came out in the 66th minute, then the coach inserted Cristante in place of a tired Barella. Italy then began its forcing. There was a great shot by Insigne rejected by Sommer in the 75th minute, and then Mancini tried the cards of desperation: Raspadori in place of the Neapolitan and Calabria for Emerson. Chiesa put out from a good position in the 84th minute, and in the 87th minute a pass by Cristante freed Berardi in the area, good at being hit by Garcia. The referee flew over, except to reconsider because he was recalled by the man to the var: penalty, which went to kick Jorginho by putting him high right without even the usual step. The spell became almost a spell, not for the Swiss who had a well-deserved party on the pitch and grandstand. (HANDLE).

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