Italy failed to take an important step towards qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar on Friday evening. The team of coach Roberto Mancini did not go further than 1-1 against Switzerland at home. Jorginho had the winner on the shoe in the final minute, but failed from eleven meters, just like in the first leg. The difference between the numbers one and two of Group C therefore remains only two goals (!) in favor of the Italians. Italy will visit Northern Ireland on Tuesday in the final group match, while Switzerland will face Bulgaria at home.
Mancini had to make do with a considerably thinned out selection in the Stadio Olympico. Giorgio Chiellini, Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Nicolò Zaniolo were missing. This provided a starting spot for Nicolò Barella, who was joined in midfield by Jorginho and Manuel Locatelli. In the attacking point, Mancini chose Andrea Belotti to replace Immobile. Swiss national coach Murat Yakin tried to take the pressure off his team before the start of the game, by stating that Switzerland is already assured of second place and corresponding play-offs.
Those statements seemed to pay off early in the game, when the Swiss took the lead after ten minutes of play. On a pass from Noah Okafor, Silvan Widmer shot the ball flawlessly from the edge of the penalty area into the top left corner out of reach of Gianluigi Donnarumma: 0-1. Italy showed very little in the first half. Barella’s shot from a rebound was saved midway through the first act by Yann Sommer, who had an excellent save.
Mancini’s team would come alongside in the first half. Ten minutes before half time, Giovanni Di Lorenzo ran into a sharp free kick by Lorenzo Insigne to beat Sommer with the head: 1-1. Early in the second half, Switzerland screamed for a penalty when a cross from Okafor unintentionally hit Bonucci’s right arm. Referee Anthony Taylor, who, together with the VAR, took a long time to approve Di Lorenzo’s 1-1, once again waved the visitors’ protests away.
The best opportunities for a victory were for Mancini’s team. Domenico Berardi, however, just missed, just like Federico Chiesa. When the game then appeared to end in a draw, Italy got the perfect opportunity in the final minute to lift the difference in the group to three points. After an extremely light push from Ulisses Garcia, Taylor pointed to the dot. Jorginho took his place behind the ball, but failed in the first game against the Swiss, just like a month ago. This time, the Chelsea midfielder shot high over.