ITALY breezed past Northern Ireland as they got off to an encouraging start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Goals from Domenico Berardi and Ciro Immobile earned a comfortable three points for the Azzurri.
THANKS FOR JOINING US
That’s all from us tonight as a spirited Northern Ireland side were seen off 2-0 by Italy in Parma.
The Azzurri did the hard work in the first half, going two goals up after strikes from Domenico Berardi and Ciro Immobile.
Ian Baraclough’s side threatened after the break and will feel unlucky not to have scored after Michael Smith and Paddy McNair failed to convert good opportunities.
Italy though looked comfortable for most of the game and will be favourites to qualify from Group C for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Thanks for joining us this evening.
It’s been a pleasure.
MATCH REPORT
Roberto Mancini’s Italy got their World Cup qualifying campaign off to a perfect start this evening.
The Azzurri will be desperate to banish the demons of failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
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NEXT UP
Up next for Northern Ireland is a friendly against the USA on Sunday, before it’s back to business on Wednesday with a World Cup qualifier against Hungary in Belfast.
Ian Baraclough will be hoping his side can get back to winning ways in both of those games at Windsor Park.
Italy meanwhile have two more Wolrd Cup qualifiers in the next week.
Roberto Mancini’s side travel to Bulgaria on Sunday and then Lithuania on Wednesday.
ACTION SHOTS
A selection of snaps from Italy’s 2-0 win over Northern Ireland in qualifying Group C for the 2022 World Cup.
Credit: EPA Credit: EPA Credit: EPA HUNDRED UP
Leonardo Bonucci marked his 100th Italy cap by wearing these special edition boots for the game.
Bonucci and centre back partner Giorgio Chiellini kept a clean sheet for the Azzurri this evening, but Northern Ireland did have their moments.
Michael Smith and Paddy McNair both squandered big chances for the visitors.
Credit: Reuters ROBERTO REACTS
Italy boss Roberto Mancini takes to Twitter to celebrate Italy’s win.
“It was important to get off to a good start. Now we’ll concentrate on our upcoming games.”
DEJECTED
Ian Baraclough trudges off the pitch at full time in Parma.
His side are winless in their last eleven games in ninety minutes.
Their only win in that run came on penalties against Bosnia in a Euro 2020 qualifying play-off game.
Credit: PA AS IT STANDS
Here’s how qualifying Group C looks after tonight’s results.
Switzerland beat Hungary 3-1 in the other game in the group tonight as the two highest ranked teams hit the front early on.
IAN’S ANALYSIS
Here’s what Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough has to say on what changed after half time for his side:
“Just more intensity.
“We were far too passive [in] the first half.
“I think we sat off that little bit too much [and] gave them a little bit too much respect.
“[We] changed that at half time [and were] a lot better, [we] created chances and should have come away with something that maybe could have taken us into the last ten or fifteen minutes where it could have been frantic for Italy.”
BRILLIANT BERARDI
Domenico Berardi’s first half strike made him the first player to score in three consecutive games under Roberto Mancini.
His previous strikes came against Bosnia and Poland in the Nations League fixtures in November 2020.
SHIRT SWAP
Kyle Lafferty gets his hands on Giorgio Chiellini’s shirt after the full time whistle.
Credit: PA ACTION AREAS
The action areas from the game show how Italy dominated the ball, but a lot less of the play was in the Northern Ireland third in the second half.
Ian Baraclough and his side will take a lot of heart from their performance tonight.
FULL TIME SCENES
The players react as the full time whistle blows in Parma.
Credit: AFP Credit: Getty FULL TIME STATS
Nothern Ireland were much improved after the break and mustered three efforts on target in the second half.
In the end though Ian Baraclough’s side could not find a way past Gianluigi Donnarumma, meaning Northern Ireland’s 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign starts with defeat.
FT: ITALY 2-0 NORTHERN IRELAND
Italy get the job done in Parma after first half goals from Domenico Berardi and Ciro Immobile.
Northern Ireland improved drastically after the break and will feel unlucky not to have scored in the second half.
Michael Smith and Paddy McNair in particular had huge chances to score for the visitors.
The Azzurri got the job done though and start their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign with a win.
PEEEEEEEEEEP!
THAT’S FULL TIME!
ITALY 2-0 NORTHERN IRELAND!
ITALY 2-0 NORTHERN IRELAND
93. Yellow card.
Jordan Thompson is into the book late on for bringing down Marco Verratti as the midfielder looks to break forward.
ITALY 2-0 NORTHERN IRELAND
93. CHANCE!
The Azzurri have come to life in the final minutes!
Verratti clips a ball over the top of Cathcart and into the path of Chiesa in the box.
He tries to hit it first time on the volley but completely mis-kicks it with the goal gaping.
ITALY 2-0 NORTHERN IRELAND
91. CHANCE!
It’s another huge one for Italy.
Spinazzola plays it into the feet of Immobile and sets off for the return ball.
Immobile slides it into him, through on goal, but the substitute can only poke his effort wide of the post.
ITALY 2-0 NORTHERN IRELAND
90. Three minutes of added time have been signalled by the fourth official.
ITALY 2-0 NORTHERN IRELAND
89. CHANCE!
Now it’s Italy’s turn to threaten.
Immobile latches on to a through ball and pokes it past the onrushing Peacock-Farrell.
His touch makes the angle tight though and he can’t quite wrap his foot around the ball to steer it on target.
ITALY 2-0 NORTHERN IRELAND
87. HUGE CHANCE!
Paddy McNair really should score!
The ball is squared across the face of goal towards Laverty on the penalty spot.
He lets it run past him for McNair to shoot, but he blazes his effort over the bar!
That has to go in.
ITALY 2-0 NORTHERN IRELAND
85. The Italy substitutions have disrupted the momentum Northern Ireland had started to build.
Davis gives away a free kick for a shove on Verratti as the Northern Ireland skipper is a little to eager to win the ball back high up the pitch.
ITALY 2-0 NORTHERN IRELAND
84. Italy substitutions.
Matteo Pessina and Vincenzo Grifo are on for Manuel Locatelli and Lorenzo Insigne.
ITALY 2-0 NORTHERN IRELAND
83. Steven Davis is involved in the action again, this time on the edge of the Italy box.
He tries his luck but sends his effort straight into the arms of Donnarumma.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
