Italy fail to qualify for FIFA World Cup yet again: We are destroyed and crushed, says Chiellini
India Today
Euro 2020 champions Italy failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar after a 1-0 loss to North Macedonia in the qualifiers at home.
Euro 2020 champions Italy failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup after a 1-0 loss to North Macedonia, which was also their first loss on home soil. Aleksandar Trajkovski scored the only goal of the game in extra time, who are yet to face Portugal in order to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar 2022.
The Azzurri were missing one of their key players in Federico Chiesa, due to an ACL injury for the qualifiers. Roberto Mancini had a great success with his time in the Euros, beating England at Wembley, but they could not replicate the same against North Macedonia.
37-year-old Italian Captain Giorgio Chiellini after the game:
"I am proud of a team that has given everything, it is clear that we are destroyed and crushed, a great void will remain within us," said Chiellini.
"There is a great disappointment, even today we played a good game but we couldn't score. From September to today we have made mistakes and we have paid for them." The Juventus veteran added.
Italy midfielder Marco Verratti said North Macedonia's goal in added time was a "real nightmare".
"This group had a great chance at the World Cup, we came from the unbeaten record, so it is difficult to accept what happened tonight," Verratti said.
