Italy would be considered a lock by many to be a lock to qualify for the World Cup. Instead, a stunning result against North Macedonia has them out.
Four years ago at the 2018 World Cup, Italy failed to make it to the much-anticipated international competition, something that seemed odd at the time. But there’s no way that could happen again to one of the most celebrated soccer nations in the world, right?
On Thursday, the Italian plight to try and qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar continued with a match against North Macedonia. Given the disparity between the two sides, it was barely considered that an Italy loss would eliminate them.
Yet, after struggling to find any attack for the match, North Macedonia shocked the Italian fans and the soccer world at large in second-half stoppage time with a strike that put them ahead 1-0 and, ultimately, gave them the win.
https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1507110274356158465
And with that, Italy will officially not be playing at the 2022 World Cup.
Italy eliminated from World Cup contention: Best memes, reactions
While Italian soccer fans were certainly in pain after seeing the national side fail to qualify for the World Cup for the second straight time, Twitter provided the rest of us with plenty of laughs and quality reactions.
https://twitter.com/PFTCommenter/status/1507128720586326025
I just found out that Italy has been eliminated by North Macedonia!!!! No World Cup for the Italians (second in a row).
— Gad Saad (@GadSaad) March 24, 2022
https://twitter.com/fiago7/status/1507132349263368194
https://twitter.com/addojunr/status/1507130981228109831
https://twitter.com/We_Global/status/1507129049801502726
Have to say the World Cup isn’t the same without Italy. But no team has a divine right to be there.
— Ian Darke (@IanDarke) March 24, 2022
https://twitter.com/arlowhite/status/1507125593191895040
https://twitter.com/JasonGregor/status/1507124922421702657|
Despite missing out on the World Cup four years ago, it just feels truly shocking that Italy won’t be participating in Qatar. A big part of that is probably the side that eliminated them from the qualifying as North Macedonia seemed completely inferior.
This is just another reason, though, why it’s called the beautiful game. Anything can happen and this stands as further proof of that.