The British team will be Italy’s opponent in the World Cup playoff semifinal to be played in March. Not to mention the unfortunate precedent of 1958…
Northern Ireland is Italy’s opponent in the semifinal playoff for the 2026 World Cup. Coach O’Neill’s team finished third in Group A behind Germany and Slovakia, but ahead of Luxembourg. The Northern Irish team won both games against Huet’s men and the away return leg against Calzona’s team. They scored seven goals and conceded six in the qualifying campaign. They are participating in the playoffs thanks to their position in the last Nations League. The winner of the match will face either Wales or Bosnia in the final.
The typical lineup— Typical lineup (3-5-2): Peacock-Farrell; McConville, Brown, McNair; Bradley, Lyons, McDonnell, Galbraith, Lewis; Donley, Price.
Bradley’s talent— Almost all of O’Neill’s players play in England, but only five are in the Premier League. Liverpool’s Conor Bradley is one of the most promising players: a right winger born in 2003, he has also worn the captain’s armband in the last three games. He is not a goalscorer, having made 30 appearances and scored four goals for the national team so far. He is also often used in midfield. Another player to watch is Jamie Donley, a 2005-born attacking midfielder owned by Tottenham. He is on loan at Stoke City in the English second division, but he is only 20 years old and has great potential for growth. Northern Ireland lacks a true striker, with even Price being an attacking midfielder adapted to play as a forward.
The coach— Michael O’Neill is one of the main protagonists of the obvious improvements in the Northern Ireland national team. He had already led them from 2011 to 2020, then coached Stoke City until 2022, before returning to the bench of his country’s national team. As a player, he also made 31 appearances for Northern Ireland.
The historical precedent— Northern Ireland has not participated in a World Cup since 1986. However, there is a historical precedent between the two national teams. In 1958, Alfredo Foni’s Azzurri arrived in Belfast to play the hosts for qualification for the World Cup in Sweden. It is January 15, and Italy has two out of three results at its disposal. The game is played in hellish conditions, on a pitch that resembles a swamp and with Northern Ireland without their first-choice goalkeeper, who is stuck in Manchester due to fog. The Azzurri failed to take advantage, conceding two goals in the first half hour (McIlroy in the 13th minute and Cush in the 28th). They then tried to get back into the game in the 56th minute with Da Costa, but lost Ghiggia 20 minutes from the end for a reactionary foul. The match ended 2-1 and will be remembered as “the defeat of Belfast.” Before the double failure in the playoffs in the last two World Cups, the only time in the last century that Italy failed to qualify for the competition was in 1958 after a heavy defeat against Northern Ireland.
