The italian team will miss the World Cup in Qatar 2022 for the second consecutive edition, after losing to North Macedonia (0-1) in a match they dominated from the start, but in which they did not know how to take advantage of the chances.
Catastrophe in Italy. Few thought that Macedonia could surprise the current European champions, who were taken for granted in a final against Portugal. The ‘Azurra’ dominated the game, but it wasn’t enough to avoid another historic elimination in which they couldn’t with a team that shot twice between the three posts and scored the winning goal in the 92nd minute.
ESPN remembers other most important teams that have been left out of a World Cup.
Domenico Berardi can’t believe the mistake – Italy vs. North MacedoniaGetty Images
Prior to Sweden World Cup 1958, Spain starred in one of the biggest disappointments by not qualifying for the biggest football party. The Iberian group had Alfredo DiStefanoconsidered one of the top stars in world soccer, but La ‘Roja’ fell by the wayside.
In the England World Cup 1966the ‘Mechanical orange’ was the great absentee and four years later, in the fair of Mexico 1970, Holland would be left out again like the selections of Argentina and Portugal. La Albiceleste was one of the great failures of the South American qualifiers, while the Lusitanian team was also eliminated despite having Eusebius like his great figure.
In Germany 1974, England was the next big squad to run out world after not reaping good performances in their tie. Nevertheless, England was not the only important squad to run out worldas France Y Portugal They also failed to qualify. Mexico He also did not participate in the competition.
Four years later, in Argentina 1978the England national team would star in a new failure by not attending the world. Portugal He did not participate either and Uruguay gave the negative surprise on the part of the Conmebol squads.
In the Spain World Cup 1982One more time Holland was the great absentee, while the Aztec fans also suffered because the team Tricolor was left out of the fair just like Portugal and Uruguay.
Incredible as it may seem, the ‘Mechanical orange’ failed to participate in Mexico World Cup 1986 and became once again the biggest squad to miss out on the competition.
Great teams in history have missed the different ESPN World Cups
In Italy 90, Mexico starred in one of the most controversial cases in football due to the infamous case of the ‘cachirules’, which motivated the FIFA will punish Tri with elimination. In the same way, Portugal and France They were left out of the fair due to poor performances in the tie.
The USA World Cup 1994 was left without several top-level teams by not having the presence of France, England and Uruguay.
In France 1998the Uruguayan team was left out again, but the great disappointment was Portugala squad that had players of the quality of Luis Figo, Rui Costa and Joao Pinto.
In Korea/Japan 2002, Holland surprised when he couldn’t get his pass to the world after conquering millions of fans due to the football he showed in the fair of France four years earlier and that made it one of the leading templates.
In Germany 2006, Uruguay he became the great absentee by not being able to beat Australia in the Repechage.
In South Africa 2010the most important teams managed to qualify, but the fans were left without seeing figures of the quality of Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden) and Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine).
In Russia 2018the fans could not enjoy the champion of America, Chilione of the giants of Concacaf, the United States, and once again Holland and Italy.
Leonardo Bonucci does not hide his frustration at the elimination after the loss to Sweden. Getty