Italy misses 2nd straight World Cup after shocking loss to North Macedonia

Just eight months after winning Euro 2020, Italy found a way to humiliate itself again.

The reigning European champion failed to qualify for the World Cup for a second consecutive time, falling 1-0 to North Macedonia in Thursday's qualifying playoff. Aleksandar Trajkovski scored in the 92nd minute to hand North Macedonia the biggest victory in its young history as an independent nation.

Italy outshot its opponent 32-4 in Palermo, but only five of its shots hit the target. North Macedonia, meanwhile, blocked 16 shots in a resilient performance that far surpasses its 2-1 win over Germany earlier in World Cup qualifying.

"We won the Italian way against the Italians, a goal from just two shots (on target)," Blagoja Milevski, North Macedonia's head coach, said.

Fans booed Italy off the field after showing incredible support before and during the match. The disappointment mirrored that which followed Italy's 1-0 aggregate loss to Sweden in November 2017, a result that caused the Azzurri to miss the World Cup for the first time since 1958.

It's now making a habit of it.

Italy is just the fourth team to win the Euro and fail to qualify for the World Cup, joining the Czechoslovakia, Denmark, and Greece.

Few could have expected such a swing in fortune for the national team. Italy beat England on penalties to win Euro 2020 in July, capping a renaissance that began shortly after Roberto Mancini took over as manager in May 2018. It built a 37-match unbeaten streak under his supervision, but signs of complacency began to show in World Cup qualifying.

Despite going undefeated in Group C, Mancini's side dropped crucial points against Bulgaria and Northern Ireland, and draws against Switzerland allowed the Swiss to win the group. Jorginho, one of the best penalty takers in the game, famously missed spot-kicks in both games against Switzerland to deny Italy an automatic berth in Qatar.

Similar frustrations set in Thursday as Italy launched wave after wave of attack. The Azzurri often resorted to speculative crosses into the penalty area, a tactic that suited North Macedonia's taller defenders just fine.

Domenico Berardi squandered a golden opportunity in the 29th minute when he scuffed an attempt off goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski's giveaway in the area. Berardi steered a feeble shot at the open goal, allowing Dimitrievski time to get back into position.

With five minutes of added time, Trajkovski, who played for Palermo from 2015-19, sparked scenes of jubilation in North Macedonia's dugout with a long-range strike that eluded Gianluigi Donnarumma's grasp and sent the host back into despair.

"The victory in the Euros was the most wonderful moment of my career," Mancini said afterward. "What happened this evening is my biggest disappointment."