Northern Ireland and Italy kick off their World Cup 2022 qualifying campaigns on Thursday night in Parma. Northern Ireland go into the game winless in their last eight international games. They will hope to upset Italy on matchday 1.
Roberto Mancini’s team are ranked No. 10 in the world going into World Cup qualifying matchday 1. Italy blew through 2020 with eight straight wins.
The Azzurri are on a three-game winning streak with wins over Estonia, Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
UEFA World Cup qualifying Group C will be a challenging one for Italy. Group C may be the most difficult – or one of the most difficult – in UEFA World Cup qualifying.
Italy and Northern Ireland are joined by Switzerland, Bulgaria, and Lithuania. Italy will be favoured to qualify for the World Cup outright. Northern Ireland will be expected to fight for the runners-up place, but a result in Parma could change expectations.
One of the biggest pieces of news going into the game is Daniele De Rossi’s appointment as an assistant to Mancini. The former Roma, Boca Juniors, and Azzurri star will bring valuable experience to the coaching staff.
Inter Milan’s players were expected to miss the game due to a COVID-19 outbreak at the club. Nicolò Barella, Alessandro Bastoni and Stefano Sensi have now joined up with the team.
Mancini has called up a squad mostly made up of Serie A players. Vincenzo Grifo, Marco Verratti, Emerson, and Lorenzo Florenzi are the only players called up from outside of Serie A.
Much of the Northern Ireland team have come from the Scottish Premiership and England’s Championship. Striker Kyle Lafferty has scored 20 international goals, the most of any player in the Northern Irish squad.
While Northern Ireland are a team of grafters, the squad is low on quality. Manager Ian Baraclough will set out the team to stifle Italy and play a very defensive game.
Italy have lost just once to Northern Ireland in their histories. The Azzurri have posted a 6W-2D-1L record in nine all-time meetings. The teams have not met since the 2011 Euro Championships campaign.
Thursday night’s match should see Italy keep their unbeaten record against Northern Ireland going. However, the Northern Irish should keep the game low scoring and play strongly in defence.
Northern Ireland should get a draw versus Italy on World Cup qualifying matchday 1. Group C could be left wide open if Northern Ireland can get a draw with Italy.