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WC Play-Offs
Italia

Italy v Macedonia del Norte - as it happened

José Manuel Moya 2 years ago 5.6k
Italy v North Macedonia, 2022 FIFA World Cup, play-off semi-finals, 24/3/2022, line-ups. BeSoccer

Join us for live coverage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup play-off semi-finals between Italy and North Macedonia at the Stadio Renzo Barbera in Palermo. The four-time champions failed to reach the finals for the first time since 1958 and will try to beat North Macedonia to advance to the final.

List of goalscorers

0 - 1
92'
A. Trajkovski

Match report in news

  • 96'
    FT: Italy 0-1 North Macedonia! It's all over and North Macedonia have done it! Football is incredible! Italy attacked for most of the game but North Macedonia scored in added time instead. The European champions will not play in the 2022 World Cup finals. Italy failed to break through the North Macedonia wall despite attacking for almost the entire game and were punished by a great goal by Trajkovski in added time. Great celebrations for the visitors at the final whistle.
Goaaaaaal!
de Macedonia del Norte en el 92'
  • 92'
    GOAL for North Macedonia! North Macedonia take the lead! What scenes for the visitors as Trajkovski fires them ahead. The ball is played forward and Trajkovksi controls, takes his time and fires a low shot from 25 metres into the bottom corner!

Substitution

at Italia

Substitution

at Italia
  • 89'
    Italy double sub: Joao Pedro is introduced for his debut on for Berardi. Mancini is replaced by Chiellini.
  • 86'
    North Macedonia sub: Ristevski replaces Velkovski.
  • 85'
    Bastoni brings the ball out from the back to start another attack, and eventually it's Pellegrini who has the chance, collecting Emerson's pass and he sends the ball across the face of goal!
  • 83'
    A deep free-kick is headed behind for another Italy corner. Raspadori takes, but it's cleared at the near post.

Yellow card

a Macedonia del Norte
  • 80'
    Spirovski is cautioned by the referee for a foul on Berardi.

Substitution

at Italia

Substitution

at Italia
  • 77'
    Italy double sub: Tonali on for Barella and Pellegrini on for Immobile.
  • 71'
    Noth Macedonia sub: Miovski on for Ristovski.
  • 69'
    Berardi drills the corner to the edge of the area where Florenzi arrives but his volley from 30 metres is blocked.
  • 67'
    The corner lands on the head of Bastoni but it's straight at Dimitrievski, who saves comfortably.
  • 66'
    Ristovski is penalised for a foul on Jorginho.
  • 65'
    Corner awarded to Italy.

Substitution

at Italia
  • 64'
    Italy sub: Raspadori on for Insigne.
  • 62'
    Insigne plays Immobile through but he's snuffed out, but Italy continue to look for the opening, which does come for Insigne, 25 metres out, but S. Ristovski is in the way.
  • 60'
    North Macedonia are having a good spell at the moment, with the recently-introduced Ashkovski helping North Macedonia take the game to their hosts for a short while.

Substitution

at Macedonia del Norte

Substitution

at Macedonia del Norte
  • 58'
    North Macedonia double sub: Spirovski on for Nokolov and Ashkovski replaces Ademi.
  • 58'
    Italy push and probe, but with nine red shirts in the way, it's a tough ask. But all of a sudden Verratti's pass finds Berardi, who turns his man, just Dimitrievski to beat, but he hits it over the top.
  • 55'
    Immobile this time with the shot, but once more it's from outside the box and Nikolov is across to deflect it to Dimitrievski. Italy just can't get in behind this resolute North Macedonia defence.
  • 54'
    Berardi again cuts in on that left foot of his and this one goes a metre or so wide of the far post.
  • 53'
    Berardi strikes again, from the edge of the penalty area, but it's too close to the keeper who saves comfortably.
  • 52'
    Another sight of goal for Trajkovski, once of Palermo, but this effort isn't able to test Donnarumma.
  • 50'
    No substitutions during the interval and the theme of the game has not changed either with Italy trying to attack but struggling for space against the North Macedonia defence. Could Pellegrini's creativity be the solution from the bench for the Azzurri?
  • 47'
    Bright start again for Italy and Verratti feeds Berardi, who cuts inside to shoot on his left foot but Alioski charges it down.
  • 46'
    We are back underway.
  • 45'
    HT: Italy 0-0 North Macedonia! All square at the break, despite Italy's dominance of possession and territory. They have had chances, the best of them to Berardi, but his scuffed shot was kept out. North Macedonia have defended manfully and have even had a couple of sights of goal themselves on the break. All to play for in Palermo.
  • 45'
    1 minute added on!
  • 44'
    Portugal have doubled their lead against Turkey – remember the winners of that game will face the victors here in the final on Tuesday.
  • 40'
    What a challenge by Florenzi! Churlinov was presented with a chance to run through and he looks set to shoot until a brilliant tackle by the Milan defender. He celebrates like he's just scored!
  • 39'
    The corner is mishit but again North Macedonia don't clear their lines, it comes back to Insigne but Ristovski blocks.
  • 38'
    Closer and closer for Italy! Verratti has the first chance, prodding towards goal from eight metres and Musliu blocks, it's then cleared as far as Immobile, who has time, but it's deflected just past the post.
  • 35'
    Corner awarded to Italy.
  • 33'
    Another corner for Italy – once more on their left-hand side – but Jorginho and Musliu come together in the box and the Italy midfielder is penalised.
  • 31'
    Insigne swings in the corner but play is halted for a foul by Mancini in the middle.
  • 29'
    What a chance! That should have been the opener for Italy! Dimitrievski presents the ball to Berardi on the edge of the area, the goal is gaping but Berardi scuffs the shot and the keeper is able to get back across and save.
  • 29'
    North Macedonia give the ball away and Italy can come at them again, but Barella's shot, again from distance, is always heading wide.
  • 25'
    The wall of red shirts is doing so well to keep Italy at bay, and Verratti is forced to try his luck from 25 metres, and it's high over the top.
  • 21'
    Another good corner, right into the middle of the goal but Dimitrievski gets a slight touch and then Musliu gets a more decisive one and North Macedonia clear.
  • 20'
    That man Ristovski to the rescue again as the first block eventually falls to Immobile but his shot is deflected behind.
  • 20'
    Lovely play from Berardi, running across the goal until he has space for the shot, but it's blocked by Ristovski.
  • 19'
    Immobile is penalised for a foul on Velkovski.
  • 15'
    Emerson's cross is deflected behind and Italy have another corner on their left. This time it is swung straight in, but Dimitrievski does well to punch it clear.
  • 11'
    The corner is taken short but Bardi reacts quickly and intercepts the pass.
  • 10'
    It's one-way traffic at the moment and after some patient build-up, space opens up for Florenzi to shoot from 20 metres. Musliu blocks once again, and the ball goes to Insigne on the far post, and his ball in is deflected behind.
  • 10'
    Corner awarded to Italy.
  • 6'
    Berardi receives the ball on the edge of the penalty area from Barella and strikes well on the turn, but Musliu manages to block. He goes down afterwards in need of treatment, and on the replays you can see why...
  • 5'
    Great atmosphere for the Italian national anthem with fans and players singing along. A big roar welcomed goalkeeper Donnarumma as he reached the goal in front of the end with the most noisy fans.
  • 4'
    Handball by Churlinov.
  • 3'
    Italy have made a bright start and after some good movement from Insigne, the ball bounces around on the edge of the penalty area, eventually dropping for Emerson to shoot on his weaker right foot, and the effort goes over the top.
  • 2'
    Alioski concedes a free-kick for a foul on Berardi.
  • 1'
    We are off! Italy, of course, in blue shirts with white shorts, North Macedonia all in red.

Start of match

  • PRVW
    Unbelievable rendition of the Italian national anthem before kick-off.
  • PRVW
    Immobile and Ristovski, the two captains, come together for the coin toss and we're about to start!
  • PRVW
    The teams make their way out here!
  • PRVW
    The players get ready in the tunnel!
  • PRVW
    Everything is ready in the home team's dressing room, with the shirts in place less than half an hour to go. Just waiting for the players to warm up.

  • PRVW
    French Clement Turpin is the referee for this one while Jerome Brisard is the VAR.
  • PRVW
    This is how the Italian side arrived at the stadium, will they be able to win with the support of their home crowd?

  • PRVW
    It's 13 degrees and clear with periodic clouds in Palermo for this one. All set at the Stadio Renzo Barbera stadium to get the ball rolling.

  • PRVW
    North Macedonia make just two changes from the side which beat Iceland in November to secure their play-off spot. Elmas and Kostadinov are out, replaced by Ademi and Nikolov in the starting line-up.
  • PRVW
    No surprises in the Italy starting XI. Mancini is forced to make several changes to his usual defensive line with Bonucci and Di Lorenzo injured and Chiellini not fully fit after recovering only recently from his own injury. Florenzi starts at right-back while Mancini and Bastoni play in the centre and Emerson is at left-back. Business as usual in midfield with Barella-Jorginho-Verratti and in attack with Berardi-Immobile-Insigne.
  • PRVW
    There is great enthusiasm around the Renzo Barbera. There will be 32,000 fans in the stadium tonight.

  • PRVW
    Italy have played 15 previous games at the Stadio Renzo Barbera in Palermo, which can be found on the island of Sicily. They have won 13 of the previous 15, drawing one and losing one.
  • PRVW
    North Macedonia bench: Naumovski (GK), Siskovski (GK); Todoroski, Ashkovski, Ristevski, Serafimov; David Babunski, Spirovski, Atanasov; Dorian Babunski, Ethemi, Miovski.
  • PRVW
    Italy bench: Sirigu (GK), Cragno (GK); De Sciglio, Chiellini, Acerbi; Cristante, Tonali, Pellegrini, Pessina; Joao Pedro Galvao, Politano, Raspadori.
  • PRVW
    North Macedonia XI: Dimitrievski (GK); Alioski, Musliu, Velkovski, Ristovski; Nikolov, Bardi, Ademi, Churlinov; Trajkovski, Ristovski.
  • PRVW
    Italy XI: Donnarumma (GK); Emerson, Bastoni, Mancini, Florenzi; Verrati, Jorginho, Barella, Insigne, Immobile, Berardi.

Pre-match

24 March 2022, 20:45

Referee: Clement Turpin | VAR: Jérôme Brisard

Stadium: Stadio Renzo Barbera

  • PRVW
    Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup play-off semi-finals between Italy and North Macedonia! Any predictions?

Mentioned in the news story

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Macedonia del Norte
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