World Cup Qualifiers: North Macedonia Look to Make History When They Face Reigning European Champions Italy

• Italy take on North Macedonia in a crunch World Cup qualifying game with the winner taking on either Portugal or Turkey
• The Italian team have never failed to qualify for two World Cup tournaments in a row in their history
• North Macedonia are looking to make history by qualifying for the World Cup, for the first time since they became an independent nation

It’s crunch time for the Azzurri when they take on North Macedonia in a World Cup Qualifier today.

Italy goes into the game as favourites but can’t afford to take the North Macedonian side too lightly.

The winner of the match will take on the winner of the Portugal versus Turkey game in five days’ time. Italy were forced to go through the play-off route after they finished behind Switzerland in their World Cup qualifying group.

A place in history is up for grabs

North Macedonia are just two games away from making history. As reported by The Hard Tackle, North Macedonia are two wins away from qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since they gained independence in 1991.

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A loss for Italy will see them fail to qualify for the World Cup for two tournaments in a row, a record that the Azzurri would hate to notch up. They have never failed to qualify for two World Cup tournaments in a row.

The two sides have only ever played against each other twice before, with the last game ending in a draw.

Teams announced for crucial World Cup Qualifier

Both Italy and North Macedonia have announced their team lists to play in the World Cup Qualifiers but the final starting line-ups have yet to be decided.

North Macedonia also boasts having one player in their squad who competes in Serie A. Eljif Elmas currently plays for Napoli, Football Italia reported. On the Italian side, Mario Balotelli was hoping to make a return to the national side but was not included by Roberto Mancini.

North Macedonia:

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Goalkeepers: Dimitrievski (Rayo Vallecano), Siskovski (Doxa), Naumovski (Shkupi)

Defenders: S Ristovski (Dinamo Zagreb), Velkovski (Rijeka), Musliu (Ingolstadt), Ristevski (AEL Limassol), Alioski (Al-Ahli), Ashkovski (Sepsi), Serafimov (Zalaegerzeg)

Midfielders: Ademi (Dinamo Zagreb), Elmas (Napoli), Bardhi (Levante), Spirovski (MKT), Kostadinov (Piast), Atanasov (Hajduk Split), Rakip (Malmö), Nikolov (Sheriff Tiraspol), Babunski (Debrecen)

Forwards: Jahovi (Gestepe), M Ristovski (Spartak Trnava), Miovski (MKT), Churlinov (Schalke 04), Trajkovski (Al-Fahja), Ethemi (Istanbulspor), Babunski (Debrecen)

Italy:

'Nothing to lose': North Macedonia eye playoff shock against Italy

North Macedonia forward Aleksandar Trajkovski is hoping to enjoy something close to home advantage when his team face Italy in Palermo on Thursday in the World Cup play-offs.

Trajkovski played for Palermo for four years until 2019. He also scored in a surprise 1-1 draw against Italy in Turin during 2018 World Cup qualifying, Sports Brief earlier reported.

The draw cost Italy two vital points in their failed quest to reach the World Cup in Russia, marking the first time the nation had missed the tournament in six decades.