A Roman tragedy: another world champion who does not go to two consecutive world championships

Undefeated in 58 home games in Qualifiers and is coming to lose the most important game of the moment. The selection of Italy fell 1-0 to North Macedonia in Palermo and will not play the World Cup for the second time in a row.

Aleksandar Trajkovski’s goal in the 92nd minute meant the final blow for an Italy that came from being the champion of the Euro, but was relegated by Switzerland to these playoffs, which now condemned it to disgrace.

For the first time in history, Italy is out of two World Cups in a row. He did not participate in the inaugural in Uruguay 1930 and did not qualify for Sweden 1958. Then, 14 World Cups passed (with two more world titles in his history: 1982 and 2006)

The draw against Switzerland and Northern Ireland in recent days left them without a direct quota, but the Euro champion was confident that it was only a longer road. “I’m sure we’ll go to the World Cup and maybe we’ll win it,” coach Roberto Mancini said. But North Macedonia told them that there are no tickets for Italians to the World Cup.

The illusions that were created and confirmed at Wembley with the European Championship title, in the middle of last year, were forgotten today. An Azzurra that went 37 games undefeated until its defeat against Spain in the Nations League in October, today stumbles again with a worse fall.

A single defeat in three and a half years to now add a single victory, two defeats and two draws in the last five games. The Qualifiers are such a long tournament that the value lies in knowing how to close the tournament well, more so for a power like Italy.

It is that North Macedonia should not be trusted. Although he was in Europe and lost all three of his games, a year ago he went to Duisburg and beat Germany in the Qualifiers. Now in Palermo he again knocks down a giant.

There were 32 shots on goal that Italy tried, but the lethal one was Trajkovski’s towards the end of the game. A long serve by goalkeeper Dimitrievski that ended up being left over after rebounds for the 9 to score with a great cross shot from outside the area. North Macedonia is serious and now points to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.

Chiellini, Florenzo, Jorginho, Immobile, Donnarrumma and Insigne relived what happened five years ago. That time they saw Sweden celebrate winning the playoff, now they see how North Macedonia is still on track for that quota.

If not attending Russia 2018 meant millionaire losses. “If the indirect impact is added, it will definitely exceed one billion,” Franco Cararo, former president of the Italian Federation, declared at the time. Not going to Qatar could mean a greater blow due to the current situation. Only by television revenues of almost 200 million are lost.

Just eight months ago, Italy lifted the Euro at the mythical Wembley and now it bows its head again when it comes to the World Cup.

The Champions

Of the World champions, Germany was only absent in the first -Uruguay 30- and in Brazil 1950 when it was excluded due to World War II.

Argentina has attended everyone since 1974 -it was eliminated by Peru on the way to Mexico 70- and before that it did not go to three tournaments in a row, France 38, Brazil 1950 and Sweden 1958 by its own decision.

France did have to experience qualifications and eliminations, but since winning the World Cup for the first time in 1998 they have not missed any appointment.

Uruguay was not in 1934 and 1938 (resigned), and alone in 2006.

For its part, England, after being champion in 1966, did not qualify for the 1974 and 1978 editions, nor for those of 1994. While Spain has been qualifying continuously since 1978. Before that, it was not in 1930, 1938, 1954-1958 and 1970. -1974.