Italy vs Switzerland Highlights: Switzerland holds European Champions Italy to a 1-1 draw in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Italy was held by a depleted Switzerland at home as it only intensifies the battle for direct qualification into the next year’s World Cup. While Italy heads onto a must-win game against Northern Ireland, Switzerland will face off Bulgaria in the last qualifiers encounter. Italy holds the edge over Switzerland in terms of goal difference so if the Swiss can only gain the direct qualification if Italy drops points in their next fixture.
#WCQ 🌏
🇮🇹🇨🇭 #ItaliaSvizzera 1️⃣-1️⃣
⚽️ Widmer 11’, #DiLorenzo 36’📋 Gli #Azzurri pareggiano a #Roma, la qualificazione al #Mondiale si deciderà lunedì contro l’#IrlandaDelNord #Qatar2022 #ItaSvi #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/2B0tcuIxeq
— Nazionale Italiana ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri) November 12, 2021
Another missed penalty from Ballon d’Or candidate Jorginho means European champion Italy still has some work to do in order to qualify for the World Cup.
A 1-1 draw with visiting Switzerland on Friday kept Italy atop Group C entering the final round of qualifiers — but only on goal difference.
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Silvan Widmer put Switzerland ahead early on with a booming shot from beyond the 18-yard box after being set up by Noah Okafor, who impressed in his first start for the national team.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo equalized for Italy before the break with a brave header to redirect a free-kick from Lorenzo Insigne inside a crowded area.
Italy vs Switzerland Highlights: Switzerland hold European Champions Italy to a 1-1 draw in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Jorginho had a chance to win it for Italy but blasted a 90th-minute penalty attempt over the bar — after also failing to convert against Switzerland in September, and in Italy’s penalty-shootout victory over England in the Euro 2020 final.
Jorginho abandoned his stutter-step approach after getting befuddled by Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer in their previous encounter. And Italy coach Roberto Mancini was yelling for Federico Chiesa to take the latest spot-kick.
“Jorginho is our penalty taker,” said Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci. “Four months ago he scored the decisive (penalty) against Spain (in the Euro 2020 semifinals). It happens to everyone.”
Sommer also made difficult saves to deny Nicolò Barella and Insigne.
Italy, which failed to qualify for the last World Cup following a playoff loss to Sweden, will want to make sure it scores some goals at Northern Ireland on Monday when Switzerland hosts Bulgaria.
Italy vs Switzerland Highlights: Switzerland hold European Champions Italy to a 1-1 draw in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
