Italy held by Macedonia 1-1 but into World Cup playoffs

Italy secured a qualifying playoff spot for next year’s World Cup but it was booed off the pitch after drawing with Macedonia 1-1 on Friday.

Defender Giorgio Chiellini gave Italy the lead shortly before halftime but substitute Aleksandar Trajkovski leveled with 13 minutes remaining.

Italy didn’t have a shot on target after Chiellini’s goal, against a side ranked outside the top 100.

Italy remained second in Group G, five points behind Spain, and can’t be caught heading into the last round of European qualifiers.

Gian Piero Ventura’s side needed just a point from its final two qualifiers against Macedonia and Albania but confidence was low after last month’s 3-0 loss in Spain.

Despite winning only 3-2 in Skopje last year thanks to a stoppage-time goal, Italy was expected to easily sweep away Macedonia in Turin.

However, the Azzuri struggled to carve out opportunities.

Italy finally broke the deadlock five minutes from halftime from an unlikely source.

Lorenzo Insigne sent a ball England Scotland Slovakia Slovenia Lithuania Malta

P W

9 9 9 9 9 9 7 5 5 4 1 0

D

2 2 0 2 3 1

L F A

0 17 3 2 15 10 4 14 7 3 10 5 5 7 19 8 3 22

Pts

23 17 15 14 6 1 through to in-form forward Ciro Immobile, who rolled it across the six-yard box for Chiellini to tap in.

Chiellini came to the rescue at the other end moments later with a last-ditch tackle after Leonardo Bonucci gave away possession with a terrible pass.

It was more of the same in the second half with Macedonia content to sit back and wait for an opening.

Belgium

Bosnia Greece Cyprus Estonia Gibraltar

PWDL

8 8 8 8 8 8 7 4 3 3 2 0 1 2 4 1 2 0 0 2 1 4 4 8

F A Pts

35 3 22 19 8 14 11 5 13 8 12 10 6 17 8 3 37 0

That came in the 77th minute as Trajkovski, who plays for Italian second-division side Palermo, fired a through ball from Goran Pandev into the far side of the net.

Giorgio Chiellini conceded Italy fans had every reason to jeer after a 1-1 draw with Macedonia. “Defeat to Spain sapped our enthusiasm.”

The Azzurri had won every game in the group until now, save for the draw and defeat to Spain.

“Once we had broken the deadlock, we should’ve controlled it a bit better, as Macedonia weren’t remotely dangerous for 75 minutes. We should’ve had it under control,” the goalscorer told Rai Sport.

“Clearly the defeat to Spain sapped the enthusiasm you need to work well and get there a moment earlier than the opponent. We had perhaps fooled ourselves that we were more advanced in our work than we really were, but we need to be more calm and relaxed.

“Even though it wasn’t a great performance, it was our first real slip-up of the qualifying group. We have to keep working, that’s the only secret, along with character and calm.

“It’s up to us to win over the applause of the fans. We understand they are upset, but in the moment of need, they’ll be with us.”