How Northern Ireland and Wales reacted to drawing Italy in World Cup play-offs

Italy have been drawn against Northern Ireland in the World Cup play-off semi-final, and will go on to face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off final should they qualify. Here is how the British nations reacted to ending up in the same section of the draw as Italy. 

Italy finished second in Group I of World Cup qualifying. Only top spot was enough to secure automatic qualification to the final World Cup tournament in North America, which was claimed by Norway in Group I. Italy’s second-place finish condemned them to the play-offs for the third time in succession. 

The World Cup play-off draw took place at the FIFA headquarters in Switzerland on Thursday afternoon. Italy were among the top seeds, and were guaranteed a home advantage for the semi-final as a result. 

Italy was the first nation to be drawn, coincidentally, by 2006 World Cup winner Marco Materazzi, and were placed against Northern Ireland for the semi-final, which will take place on March 26. 

It is expected that the game will be played at Atalanta’s New Balance Arena in Bergamo, although this has not yet been officially confirmed. 

The winner of the Italy vs. Northern Ireland tie will go on to face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away from home in the final, which will take place on March 31. 

“That draw could hardly have gone much worse for Michael O’Neill,” wrote the Belfast Telegraph after the completion of the draw. 

“It’s a tricky one,” noted the Irish Times. They predicted that Italy or Poland would be the ‘trickiest’ semi-final. The Irish News added that the Green and White Army “must do it the hard way.” 

O’Neill himself agreed with those sentiments: “Italy will be as tough as we can get, but ultimately we have to believe we can go there and get an amazing result,” he said after the completion of the draw. 

“It would be one of the biggest results in our history if we can do that. We have to believe as a young team that we are capable of doing that.”

Welsh stars of years gone by have also reacted to the prospect of playing Italy in the play-off final, assuming that both teams qualify. 

“Going into the final, if we do win, being home is a massive advantage whether it’s Northern Ireland or Italy. Italy aren’t the same team they used to be before, they lost to Norway 4-1,” the BBC were told by Joe Ledley, one of the stars of Wales’s EURO 2016 campaign. 

“Two home ties, I don’t think we can complain about that. Anything can happen at the Cardiff City Stadium.”

Danny Gabbidon added: “I think the key for Wales was getting the home draw, I feel that with that they won’t be too bothered with who they got. They’ll feel like at the Cardiff City Stadium they can beat anyone.

“You look at the final if we get through that, it’s two really tough games with Northern Ireland and Italy. Always difficult playing against the home nations, they just bring a different vibe, different pressure a different feel.

“Italy are a quality outfit, who will be looking to qualify. It will be three World Cups they’ve missed out on if they don’t qualify for this one, so they’ll be desperate to get to the World Cup.”

Rob Earnshaw, meanwhile, said: “The big one is the potential of Italy or Northern Ireland, that’s going to be huge. It’s going to take something gigantic for us to qualify for the World Cup.

“If it is Italy, it’ll take something big for us to qualify. They’re probably the hardest team, I don’t think anybody would’ve wanted Italy, but I still fancy us.”