Italy took a crucial step towards ending their World Cup exile with a controlled victory over Northern Ireland in Bergamo. After dominating large periods and repeatedly threatening from set-pieces, the hosts eventually found their breakthrough through Sandro Tonali before Moise Kean sealed the result, setting up a decisive clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina for a place in the tournament.
Italy began their push to return to the World Cup against Northern Ireland national football team. After missing the last two tournaments, Italy entered a bracket that paired this match with a potential clash against the winner of Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina. The game was moved to Bergamo instead of San Siro, aiming to use the stadium’s atmosphere as an extra advantage.
In the 5th minute, Federico Dimarco delivered a corner to the far side of the box, where Sandro Tonali attempted a looping header back across goal. The goalkeeper, who had moved away from his line, scrambled but the ball drifted just wide of the post, nearly giving Italy an early lead.
In the 7th minute, after another Dimarco corner caused chaos in the box, the ball fell back to him following a flick from Gianluca Mancini. Dimarco struck it first time, forcing a strong save from Pierce Charles. The rebound hit Mateo Retegui and dropped to Tonali, whose follow-up effort was blocked.
As the pressure continued, Italy came close twice from corners.
Italy built attacks with a back three of Riccardo Calafiori and Mancini as wide centre-backs, with Alessandro Bastoni central, all positioned near the halfway line. Manuel Locatelli operated just ahead, looking to receive and progress play quickly with vertical passes. In front, a midfield four featured Tonali and Nicolò Barella centrally, with Dimarco and Matteo Politano wide, often pushing forward to act as wingers. Retegui and Moise Kean led the line, with the midfielders frequently stepping forward to support, forming a flexible 3-5-2.
Northern Ireland pressed high, with Price and Devenny stepping out from wide midfield roles to support the striker, forming a front line that tried to disrupt Italy’s build-up. Behind them, two defensive midfielders formed part of a compact five-man block, focusing on closing down Locatelli and limiting his influence. The defensive line sat deeper in a back five, aiming to block long balls and through passes, particularly towards Politano and Dimarco, operating in a 5-2-3 shape.
When the early pressure did not lead to a goal, Northern Ireland grew into the game and began to counter. After one corner, a dangerous loose ball flashed across the box without a touch. In the 20th minute, a strong counter saw Ethan Galbraith carry the ball through midfield, with Price making a run in behind. Instead of passing, Galbraith shot, but the effort deflected off Calafiori and was easily saved.
To play out from Italy’s press, Northern Ireland pushed their central centre-back forward, with the wide centre-backs splitting towards the corners of the box. The full-backs advanced to form a second line with the two defensive midfielders, while a front three formed ahead, with wide players moving inside to support the striker.
Italy pressed with Kean and Retegui leading the line, supported by the midfield stepping high into the attacking half. The back three stayed ready to deal with long balls.
In the 34th minute, Tonali delivered another dangerous corner, this time finding Bastoni, whose header went narrowly wide.
In the 38th minute, Mancini passed to Politano, who quickly played a long ball forward to Retegui. He flicked it on to Kean, who controlled, turned, and fired from the edge of the box, but his effort went over.
Italy continued to threaten from set-pieces, and in the 42nd minute another Dimarco corner found Bastoni, but his header again went over.
When building from the back, Italy sometimes shifted into a back four, with Mancini at right-back and Dimarco dropping to left-back. Locatelli stayed deep to dictate play, with Tonali and Barella ahead of him. Politano operated as a third attacker alongside Kean and Retegui, while Dimarco occasionally stepped into midfield, with Tonali covering at left-back.
Northern Ireland pressed with their striker and Devenny stepping forward, supported by a midfield four, with Devlin pushing up from right-back. At times, this became a front three, while the defensive line reshaped into a back four behind them.
In the second half, Italy continued to control the game. In the 50th minute, after a cross from Locatelli was deflected, the ball fell to Calafiori, who controlled it on his chest and struck from distance, but the shot was deflected and easily gathered.
Northern Ireland attacked with their centre-backs pushed up near the halfway line, while full-backs advanced to form a midfield line with the defensive midfielders. The wide players moved inside to support the striker.
Italy defended with Kean and Retegui leading the press, while Dimarco and Politano dropped into a back five. At times, Politano moved into midfield, with Locatelli dropping into defence and Mancini holding the right side.
In the 53rd minute, Northern Ireland created a good chance as Shea Charles attempted a through ball, but it was overhit. A loose sequence followed, and Italy nearly countered after a poor pass back from Devlin, but Retegui’s heavy touch allowed Pierce Charles to recover.
In the 55th minute, Tonali won the ball and fed Kean, who struck a powerful low shot from distance, forcing a save for a corner.
In the 56th minute, Barella combined with Politano, who drove forward, cut inside, and crossed. Price cleared before it reached Dimarco, but the ball fell to Tonali at the edge of the box, who struck a powerful half-volley to give Italy the lead and finally break the deadlock.
In the 66th minute, Locatelli cushioned a loose ball into the path of Pio Esposito, who played a through ball to Kean. He entered the box and shot, but it was comfortably saved.
In the 73rd minute, another Dimarco corner found Esposito at the near post, but his header was cleared by Trai Hume.
Embed from Getty ImagesIn the 79th minute, Politano combined with Barella before delivering a cross, which Kean attempted to finish with a bicycle kick, but the effort went wide.
As Northern Ireland made attacking substitutions, spaces began to open. In the 80th minute, after a goal kick, Italy regained possession and worked the ball forward to Kean via Esposito and Tonali. Tonali produced an excellent lofted pass over the defence, and Kean controlled, cut inside, and finished calmly, placing the ball beyond the goalkeeper to seal the match and Italy’s progression.
Italy advanced past their first hurdle and will now face Bosnia and Herzegovina, who defeated Wales on penalties. While Italy have shown control under Gennaro Gattuso, they have sometimes lacked variation, relying heavily on crosses, particularly through Dimarco. Against Northern Ireland, many of their best chances came from set-pieces. Bosnia, however, are strong aerially and pose a different challenge, both defensively and offensively.
The next match, scheduled for 31/03, will determine whether Italy move one step closer to returning to the World Cup or face further disappointment after two missed tournaments.
Embed from Getty ImagesWritten by Israel Schmidt de Azevedo
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