‘Italy must beat fear’ in World Cup play-off, but opponents ‘have an advantage’ | OneFootball

The World Cup play-off is just around the corner for Italy, and Gazzetta notes that the Azzurri must ‘beat fear’ after failing to qualify for the previous two editions.

Italy will be looking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 2014, meeting Northern Ireland in the play-off semifinal next week.

Italy ‘insecure and afraid’ ahead of World Cup play-off

The match will be played in Bergamo on March 26, and if the Azzurri progress to the final, they’ll face Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away.

“We are no longer a great side, but we are not mediocre either. We are insecure and afraid. Compared to previous collapses, the situation is very different,” wrote Gazzetta journalist Fabio Licari.

“Against Sweden in 2017, the head coach (Ventura) had effectively lost the dressing room. It was a modest Italy and an opponent, Sweden, that was awkward to say the least. We didn’t understand anything.

PALERMO, ITALY – MARCH 24: Alessandro Bastoni and Joao Pedro Galvao of Italy look dejected during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier knockout round play-off match between Italy and North Macedonia at Renzo Barbera Stadium in Palermo, Italy. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)

“Five years later, against North Macedonia, it was the opposite. Overconfidence, already thinking about the final with Portugal before getting past the semi-final,” the journalist continued.

“It was a psychological mistake before a technical or tactical one: 32 shots, 32 touches inside the box, 16 corners; almost absurd statistics. That night taught us that the unbelievable can happen. Now we are certainly better equipped and less arrogant.

“We need to shake off the nihilism that paralyses us at the first sign of trouble, even against weaker opponents. Northern Ireland won in Luxembourg and lost 3-1 in Germany and 1-0 in Slovakia. It won’t be easy, but let’s be honest: we are stronger.

“In the possible final, we would face Bosnia or Wales. Dzeko’s side narrowly beat Cyprus, San Marino and Romania at home, and lost to Austria. In Cardiff, Kazakhstan, Leichtestein and North Macedonia have been beaten, but Belgium won there. Wales would be tougher because of their Premier League tempo and a fiery atmosphere, but they are not unbeatable.

“It almost sounds ironic, given our history. We are not favourites, but we can compete with Tonali, Donnarumma, Calafiori at a Premier League level, Kean, Retegui and Esposito in attack, and Dimarco as a top European wing-back. The others, however, have an advantage: nothing to lose.”