Italy will look to book their place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup when they travel to Belfast to face Northern Ireland in what is the last game of the 2022 World cup qualifying round.
Venue: Windsor Park
Key Statistics
Northern Ireland are unbeaten in three home World Cup Qualification (WCQ) games (W1, D2).
They have also managed to keep three clean sheets in those three fixtures.
But they have not scored versus Italy in six meetings since 1961.
Italy have won just two games in six matches since their Euro 2020 triumph over England last summer (D3, L1).
They scored nine goals in those games, including five goals in a game against Lithuania. They also conceded five times in that period, keeping two clean sheets.
Italy are unbeaten in 14 games where they were registered as the away team.
Head to head
Italy boasts a superior record in the history of this fixture, as they have seven wins from their last 10 encounters. Northern Ireland have managed just one win in that period, while two games have ended all square.
Latest Performances in all competitions
Northern Ireland: W-D-L-L-W
Italy: D-W-L-W-D
Northern Ireland
After missing out of a place in the World Cup last month, Northern Ireland are now playing to save some face and give their fans something to cheer about.
They welcome Italy to Windsor Park fresh from a 1-0 win over Lithuania – their first win in four games.
They will now hope to make it two wins in a row for the second time this year after recording back-to-back wins against Lithuania and Estonia in September.
Ian Barraclough’s side will also be looking to frustrate Italy and ensure they do not finish on top of the group.
They will fancy their chances of picking up a point and end their World Cup qualifying campaign on a high note.
Possible Northern Ireland starting line-ups
Bailey Peacock-Farrell; Ciaron Brown, Craig Cathcart, Jonny Evans; Jordan Jones, Stuart Dallas, George Saville, Steven Davis; Paddy McNair, Shane Ferguson, Conor Washington.
Italy
Italy’s frustrating draw with Switzerland in their last game extended their wait to seal qualification for the World Cup.
They’re still top of the group despite Jorginho’s last-minute penalty miss in the aforementioned draw. But they’re only ahead of Switzerland on goal difference and will be desperate to get a win here and avoid having to play in the playoffs.
They head into this game with two wins from their last six games.
The Azzurri are yet to taste defeat in the qualifiers and will fancy their chances of finishing unbeaten throughout.
However, Roberto Mancini’s men remain without the services of Ciro Immobile, Nicolo Zaniolo, Giorgio Chiellini, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Marco Verratti, who have been sidelined through injuries.
Possible Italy starting line-ups
Gianluigi Donnarumma, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Leonardo Bonucci, Alessandro Bastoni, Emerson, Nicolo Barella, Manuel Locatelli, Sandro Tonali, Federico Chiesa, Andrea Belotti, Lorenzo Insigne.
Prediction
Northern Ireland 0-2 Italy
