Mancini screwed up

Alas, it happens in football. The team that had excellent statistics throughout the game, with an 85% chance of victory before the match, walks away defeated at the referee’s whistle. That is exactly what happened in the match between Italy and North Macedonia. The latter had denied the European champions a chance to play in the 2022 World Cup. In other words, the second World Cup in a row will take place without the Italians.

The Italians were defeated in their home game, not just in Palermo, but in the Renzo Barbera stadium, where to say that the crowd is hot is not to say anything. Perhaps Mancini, the Italian manager, had misgivings, and so he chose the stadium with the most favourable fans. But they witnessed not a triumph for their team, but a sensational defeat.

Mancini: Staffing changes

Mancini had to make some serious personnel changes before the game. After all, Federico Chiesa, Leonardo Bonucci and Manuel Locatelli were out on loan. Even Mario Balotelli, who has considerably lost his touch, was involved in the game. The forward, who is currently playing in Turkey, has even been called up for training camp. But he was not called up for the game, and perhaps Mancini seriously miscalculated. The Italian team’s weakness in this game was attacking. There were plenty of chances but they always failed to be converted.

The Italians controlled the ball 65% of the game time, took 32 shots on goal against 4 Macedonians. The Macedonians did not score once, whereas the Italians did it 16 times. In spite of these statistics, which attest to their unquestionable superiority, the Italians lost, albeit with a minimal scoreline. 

Trajkovski – hero of the match

Aleksandar Trajkovski was the hero of the match for Macedonians and the player who spoiled the mood of the Italian players and fans. It is quite funny that this footballer, who now plays in Saudi Arabia, played a significant part of his career in… Palermo at the football club of the same name.

Trajkovski has also become something of a sensation of the game. Indeed, the Macedonian left-back has been very modestly effective of late. In his current team, Al Feiha, he’s only scored one goal in 17 games this season. But the home-field factor may have worked, with the 29-year-old performing at his best. 

What a twist   

Scoring a goal in the 92nd minute shocked both the Italian players and the fans. By that time, both teams, and the audience were confident that the result would be decided in extra time. Therefore, the game was, as they say, half-hearted. Trajkovski got the ball after a lucky challenge for the Macedonians in the top flight and Trajkovski fired the ball into the net. However, for the player, that shot was not a fluke. The player annoyed the Italians throughout the match, landing four dangerous shots on the opponents’ goal.

After winning the match against the Italians, Blagoja Milevski’s charges are to face the Portuguese team who defeated the Turks. Cristiano Ronaldo and his countrymen must be anticipating an easy or relatively easy win. But the Italians must have felt the same way.