Catch up with the highlights and reactions as Italy suffered a shocking 1-0 loss at home to Nort Macedonia ending their hopes of qualifying for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, while Portugal progressed with a 3-1 win over Turkey.
Italy will miss their second World Cup in a row after slumping to a shock 1-0 play-off semi-final defeat to North Macedonia on Thursday.
The World Cup hopes of the last two European champions are on a knife edge with Portugal and Italy on a collision course in decisive qualifying play-offs over the next week.
Italy are aiming for World Cup glory despite having to navigate a treacherous playoff path in order to get the 2022 tournament, with North Macedonia the first barrier in their way.
European champions Italy and Portugal could meet for a place at the 2022 World Cup after being drawn in the same play-off path on Friday.
European champions Italy missed out on automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup after being held to a goalless draw by Northern Ireland in Belfast on Monday, ceding top spot in Group C to Switzerland who beat Bulgaria 4-0.
No one is quite sure how the Fifa World Rankings work – but they’re the benchmark for how we measure the top teams in international football. Apart from, you know, World Cups, Euros, Copa Americas… The World Rankings began in 1993, with the footballing governing body looking to establish some kind of order of who was good and who… wasn’t…. Read more →
Ferran Torres put Spain into the Nations League final on Wednesday with a brace in a 2-1 win that ended Italy’s world record unbeaten run at 37 matches in front of their own fans.
Global sports company PUMA has developed ULTRAWEAVE, its lightest ever performance apparel technology engineered to deliver the game’s fastest football jersey.
Sports company PUMA on Thursday unveiled three customised FIGC football jerseys in tribute to Italian renaissance art and fashion culture.