Italy will face Northern Ireland at home on March 26 in the semi-finals of the European playoffs for a place at next year’s World Cup, on the basis of Thursday’s draw at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich.
If they prevail, the Azzurri will face the winner of the match between Wales and Bosnia away from home on March 31.
The Azzurri are in the World Cup playoffs for a third consecutive time after defeats at this stage to Sweden and North Macedonia saw them fail to reach the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
Gigi Buffon and Italian Soccer Federation President President Gabriele Gravina both expressed optimism that Italy can make it through March’s playoffs before Thursday draw.
Former Italy and Juventus captain and goalkeeping great Buffon, who is now the national team’s delegation head, said Italy was awaiting the playoffs “with trepidation and enthusiasm.
“Unfortunately in Italy we see too many phantoms of the past,” he told Sky. “Instead I hope they will be two important games that we face with (pride in) our history”.
He said there was no shame in Italy finishing second to Norway in their qualifying group, after Sunday’s 4-1 loss to them at San Siro.
“I’m sorry more about the result than about the game itself,” he said.
“The match showed that we are ultra-competitive if we do not let go of our characteristics.
“Beyond what some obtuse minds may think, Norway is among the top five or six national teams in the world.” Gravina was upbeat too.
“I am convinced that we are going to the World Cup, but you don’t go to the World Cup because your name is Italy or France or Spain,” he said at a convention.
“You go to the World Cup because you win, because you plan and work and we are trying to do that.
“I have to be optimistic, otherwise we run the risk of entering a crisis of depression”.
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