European champions Italy will have to qualify for next year’s World Cup via the playoffs after a 0-0 draw with Northern Ireland allowed Switzerland to top their group on Monday.
Italy went into the final matchday in Group C marginally ahead of the Swiss on goal difference after the two sides drew 1-1 last week, with Jorginho missing a late penalty.
But the Azzurri could not find a way past the Northern Ireland defence, with the game ending 0-0, while Switzerland thrashed Bulgaria 4-0 to secure their spot for Qatar.
The result means Italy will join 2016 European champions Portugal in the playoffs mix, although both nations are set to be seeded.
Italy endured one of their darkest hours when they missed the 2018 World Cup, but bounced back by winning Euro 2020 under boss Roberto Mancini, who remains bullish.
At the moment, we are struggling to score goals, despite dominating possession and the initiative,” Mancini told RAI Sport.
“Northern Ireland put everyone in defence and we struggle to break sides like that down. Its a pity, because we shouldve sealed the group long before it came to this. We just need to rediscover what characterised us up until today.
Now we prepare for March and we go into the play-offs confident. Well book our place in the World Cup in March and hopefully win the tournament too.”
In Group I, England finally confirmed their World Cup berth with an emphatic 10-0 win in San Marino with Harry Kane netting four goals. England finished top in the group ahead of playoffs-bound Poland who lost 2-1 to Hungary.
Scotland will also enter the playoffs after beating already-qualified Denmark 2-0 as they finished runners-up in Group F.
Austria finished fourth in the group, ending their campaign with a 4-1 win over Moldova, but will reach the playoffs due to their Nations League results.
