Match ends, Italy 0, North Macedonia 1.
European champions Italy will not play in the 2022 World Cup after being stunned by North Macedonia in their play-off in Palermo.
Aleksandar Trajkovski picked up the loose ball in the 92nd minute, drove forward and fired a sensational winner from outside the area.
The goal sparked wild celebrations on the North Macedonia bench, while Italy's players and coaching staff dropped to their knees in front of their home fans.
It means Italy have failed to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup, ensuring the Azzurri will endure at least 12 years between appearances at football's showpiece event.
It is just eight months since Roberto Mancini's side celebrated one of their greatest triumphs - beating England at Wembley to win Euro 2020 having been considered outsiders going into the tournament.
But they have now paid the price for a disjointed - if previously unbeaten - World Cup qualification campaign during which they finished runners-up to Switzerland in their group, winning four and drawing four of their eight matches.
As expected Italy dominated possession on Thursday but failed to penetrate the resolute North Macedonia defence, registering five shots on target from 32 attempts.
The visitors, ranked 67th in the world, are rewarded for their defensive display with a play-off final against Portugal, who beat Turkey 3-1.
North Macedonia are 90 minutes away from reaching consecutive tournaments, having never reached a Euros or World Cup before qualifying for Euro 2020.
Four-time World Cup winners Italy, who are ranked sixth in the world, will watch events in Qatar in November and December from afar.
The shock of 2022
As the players emerged from the tunnel and the national anthems played, this was billed as a routine victory for Italy.
The mouth-watering prospect of veteran superstars Giorgio Chiellini and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo meeting in the play-off final loomed large.
But it was anything but routine.
Mancini's side started brightly and Marco Verratti kept them ticking, but they struggled to translate their possession into clear-cut chances.
North Macedonia came to Italy with a defensive gameplan and they threw everything in the way of the ball, as Visar Musliu caught the full force of a Domenico Berardi volley in the groin.
Berardi was a rare bright spark for Italy but when he was gifted possession by North Macedonia keeper Stole Dimitrievski, who had left his goal momentarily unguarded, the Sassuolo forward could not get the ball out of his feet in time to roll it into the net.
That theme continued into the second half as Berardi's movement again proved to be a threat without the final product.
As he rolled his marker just outside of the area with ease, he could only fire his effort over the bar with just the keeper to beat.
North Macedonia had just 34% possession and four shots over 90 minutes, but they took their opportunity against the run of play clinically.
As the ball bounced up inside the Italian half, Trajkovski, who used to play for Palermo, chested the ball away from two blue shirts and set off towards Gianluigi Donnarumma's goal.
The Paris St-Germain keeper had virtually nothing to do for 90 minutes, but he was too slow to react to Trajkovski's fizzing effort as it nestled into the bottom corner.
The journey is not yet complete for North Macedonia, who face Italy's predecessors as European champions in the final, but this is unquestionably the upset of the play-offs.
Line-ups
Italy
Formation 4-3-3
- 21G Donnarumma
- 16Florenzi
- 19ManciniSubstituted forChielliniat 90'minutes
- 23Bastoni
- 13Emerson
- 18BarellaSubstituted forTonaliat 77'minutes
- 8Jorginho
- 6Verratti
- 11BerardiSubstituted fordos Santos Galvãoat 89'minutes
- 17ImmobileSubstituted forPellegriniat 77'minutes
- 10InsigneSubstituted forRaspadoriat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Sirigu
- 2De Sciglio
- 3Chiellini
- 4Tonali
- 5Cristante
- 7Pellegrini
- 9dos Santos Galvão
- 12Pessina
- 14Cragno
- 15Acerbi
- 20Politano
- 22Raspadori
North Macedonia
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Dimitrievski
- 13Ristovski
- 14VelkovskiBooked at 80minsSubstituted forRistevskiat 86'minutes
- 6Musliu
- 8Alioski
- 5AdemiSubstituted forAskovskiat 59'minutes
- 11Churlinov
- 16NikolovSubstituted forSpirovskiat 59'minutes
- 10Bardhi
- 9Trajkovski
- 19RistovskiSubstituted forMiovskiat 72'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Todoroski
- 3Askovski
- 4Ristevski
- 7Babunski
- 12Naumovski
- 15Serafimov
- 17Ethemi
- 18Babunski
- 20Spirovski
- 21Atanasov
- 22Shishkovski
- 23Miovski
- Referee:
- Clément Turpin
- Attendance:
- 34,129
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home65%
- Away35%
- Shots
- Home32
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home16
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Italy 0, North Macedonia 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. João Pedro (Italy) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Alessandro Florenzi.
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Attempt missed. Alessandro Florenzi (Italy) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
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Offside, North Macedonia. Stefan Spirovski tries a through ball, but Aleksandar Trajkovski is caught offside.
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Foul by Emerson (Italy).
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Enis Bardhi (North Macedonia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal!
Goal! Italy 0, North Macedonia 1. Aleksandar Trajkovski (North Macedonia) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Bojan Miovski.
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Foul by Giorgio Chiellini (Italy).
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Aleksandar Trajkovski (North Macedonia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Italy. Giorgio Chiellini replaces Gianluca Mancini.
Substitution
Substitution, Italy. João Pedro replaces Domenico Berardi.
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Foul by Gianluca Mancini (Italy).
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Stole Dimitrievski (North Macedonia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, North Macedonia. Kire Ristevski replaces Darko Velkovski.
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Corner, Italy. Conceded by Ezgjan Alioski.
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Domenico Berardi (Italy) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Ezgjan Alioski (North Macedonia).
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Corner, Italy. Conceded by Aleksandar Trajkovski.
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Emerson (Italy) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Comments
Join the conversation
The lesson is that if you don’t up your game and take your chances don’t be surprised if you lost the game.
The Italians were as vocal as most other nations but only they, of those that voiced their concerns, have been honourable enough to boycott both events. Bravo my friends.
The most recent Euros, however, were a very bright spot as the Azzurri played with positive intent, a grand energy, and were undeniably the best team in that tournament.
If you're a neutral, it's too bad that they won't be in Qatar. But congrats to N. Macedonia, what a glorious moment!