By Anna Italia
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Italian Soccer Serie A
Northern Ireland – Italy 
It’s now or never for Italy to grab the qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It’s a tense day because Italy must win the World Cup Qualifier game against Northern Ireland on Monday 15 November 2021 at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland at 20:45. This is the test to pass, the moment of truth because Northern Ireland are unbeaten at home in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup (1W, 2D); in addition, he only lost one of four home matches played in 2021: 1-2 against the United States last March.
✅ This is the current situation. The draw with Switzerland was not enough slowing down the qualification . Italy travel to Belfast on Monday with a goal difference lead of +2 over Switzerland, who host Bulgaria. In few words, Italy need to score as many goals to avoid the playoffs. In the event of a draw on points, between Italy and Switzerland they will decide in order: general goal difference (+11 to +9 for the Azzurri today before the game), goals scored in the group (13 to 11 today for the Azzurri) and direct matches (in favor of the Azzurri). Switzerland for the away goal). If Switzerland do not beat Bulgaria, Italy suffices to draw: even if they reach equal points, they would have the best overall goal difference. In all other cases (Italy and Switzerland winning but also both defeats) today’s scores will make the difference. Tough! No time for mistakes, just win in grand style! OH YEAHHHHHHH come on Italiaaaaaaaaaa
✍️ Stats before the game. Italy have lost only one of 10 matches against Northern Ireland (1-2 in the qualifiers for the 1958 World Cup, played in Belfast), 7 wins, 2 draws.
Italy have never won an away match against Northern Ireland: so far three games all played in Belfast, in which the Italy have collected two draws and one defeat – 0-0 in the most recent, in October 2010, valid for the qualifiers for the Europeans.
Italy have won just two of their eight most recent games in all competitions (5D, 1L), 5-0 against Lithuania in September in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers and 2-1 against Belgium in the UEFA Nations League.
Italy drew the last away match, 0-0 against Switzerland: the Azzurri do not remain two away games in a row without successes since 2018, in the first two matches of the Mancini management played away from home (defeats against France and Portugal).
Italy are one of three teams, along with Germany and Denmark, that have not conceded away goals in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup – the Azzurri have collected just 18 shots in three games, more than France alone (16, again in three matches external).
👉 FIFA World Cup Qualifier Group C, Italy leading with 15 points (after Matchday 7)
| group c standing | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇹 Italy | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 11 | 15 |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 15 |
| Northern Ireland | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 8 |
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 10 | -4 | 8 |
| 🇱🇹 Lithuania | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 19 | -15 | 3 |
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👉 FIFA World Cup Qualifier Group C, Match Officials
Romanian Referee Istvan Kovacs will be assisted by Assistant Referee 1: Vasile Marinescu (ROU) and Assistant Referee 2: Ovidiu Artene (ROU). The Fourth Official will be Horațiu Feșnic (ROU). The VAR will be Bastian Dankert (GER). The AVAR will be Mike Pickel (GER) and Referee Assessor will be Robert Sedlacek (AUT).
🏆👉Northern Ireland vs Italy 🇮🇹, Match Officials
🗓️Monday 15 November 2021
🏟️National Football Stadium at Windsor Park
⏲️20:45🙍♂️Referee: Istvan Kovacs
🚩Assistants: Vasile Marinescu and Ovidiu Artene
Fourth Official: Horațiu Feșnic https://t.co/1f2OZXZVQ2@SerieA_EN pic.twitter.com/OnXwbbgkfD— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) November 15, 2021
🇮🇹 👉 Italian Squad List
Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno (Cagliari), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli);
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Emerson Palmieri (Lyon), Gian Marco Ferrari (Sassuolo), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Davide Zappacosta (Atalanta);
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Danilo Cataldi (Lazio), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Jorginho (Chelsea), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Matteo Pessina (Atalanta), Tommaso Pobega (Torino), Sandro Tonali (Milan);
Attackers: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo), Gianluca Scamacca (Sassuolo).
2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
Group C
Northern Ireland – Italy
Monday 15 November 2021
National Football Stadium at Windsor Park
Belfast, Northern Ireland
20:45
Referee: Istvan Kovacs
Assistant Referee 1: Vasile Marinescu (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: Ovidiu Artene (ROU)
Fourth Official: Horațiu Feșnic (ROU)
VAR: Bastian Dankert (GER)
AVAR: Mike Pickel (GER)
Referee Assessor: Robert Sedlacek (AUT)