Italy missed direct qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar four months after its glamorous EM triumph. In the long-distance duel for overall victory in Group C with Switzerland, who went tied on the last match day, the Squadra Azzurra gambled away the ticket to the golf with a disappointing 0-0 in Northern Ireland and the simultaneous 4-0 (0-0) success of the Swiss Confederates in the first attempt and must hope for a success in the playoffs in the spring. In contrast, the Swiss can celebrate their fifth participation in the World Cup in a row.
Italy suffered the next setback in Belfast three days after the dramatic 1-1 draw against Switzerland in Rome. The four-time world champion, who had only been a spectator at the last World Cup finals in Russia in 2018, largely missed most of the qualities he had so highly praised last summer.
The team of coach Roberto Mancini could rather thank his goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma not to fall behind. Under the pressure of the information about the Swiss goals in the parallel game, the Italians acted more and more hectic and could hardly put the hosts in serious danger.
With five Bundesliga legionaries in the starting line-up, the Confederates initially failed to take the lead they had hoped for in Lucerne. But shortly after the break, Noah Okafor (48th) broke the spell. Ruben Vargas from Augsburg made the decision nine minutes later (57th), before Cedric Itten (72nd) from Fürth made it 4-0 shortly after his substitution and a disallowed goal from the hosts and Remo Freuler (90th).
In the closing stages, coach Murat Yakin’s players were increasingly focused on the score in Belfast, before the Swiss cheered. In Qatar, Switzerland will be among the finalists for the twelfth time in World Cup history.
England solves ticket with a 10-0
England has not let the football dwarf San Marino dissuade them from their way to Qatar and, thanks to star striker Harry Kane, effortlessly booked the ticket to the 2022 World Cup. The European runner-up won in Serravalle after four Kane goals 10-0 (6-0) and secured first place in Group I with his highest win in 57 years with 26 points.
Poland, which in any case had to hope for a highly unlikely defeat by the English, lost without the spared world footballer Robert Lewandowski 1: 2 (0: 1) against Hungary and went into the play-offs as second in the group (20 points).
Kane is after his four-pack (27th hand penalty, 32nd, 39th hand penalty, 42nd) with 48 hits in the national jersey and tied with Gary Lineker in third place on the “eternal” goalscorer list of the Three Lions. Only Wayne Rooney (53) and Bobby Charlton (49) are still ahead of the Tottenham Hotspur star. Harry Maguire (6th), Filippo Fabri (15th), Emile Smith Rowe (58th), Tyrone Mings (69th), Tammy Abraham (78th) and Bukayo Saka (80th) scored against the overwhelmed hosts who played after yellow-red for Dante Rossi (68th) in the minority.