What Italy should expect from Northern Ireland in World Cup play-off semi-final

Italy have been drawn against Northern Ireland in the World Cup play-off semi-final. Here is what to expect from the Green and White Army when they visit the Azzurri in March. 

Italy finished second in Group I in World Cup qualification, ending on 18 points from eight games, which was not enough to secure direct qualification to the final tournament in the summer. 

As a result, and for the third World Cup cycle in a row, Italy will have to go through the play-off system. 

The draw for the play-offs took place on Thursday evening. Italy were among the top seeds, and were the first nation to be drawn out of the pots, coincidentally, by 2006 World Cup winner Marco Materazzi. 

Italy will now host Northern Ireland in a one-legged semi-final on March 26, and the winner of that tie will go on to play either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away on March 31 for a spot in the final tournament. 

You can see how the World Cup play-off draw unfolded on the Football Italia Liveblog

Of the four teams that Italy could have been drawn against in the play-offs, Northern Ireland are the lowest ranked: Sweden are currently 43rd in the latest FIFA rankings, which were updated on Wednesday, Romania are 47th, North Macedonia 65th and Northern Ireland 69th. Italy are currently 12th. 

Northern Ireland were awarded a place in the World Cup play-offs despite the fact that they finished third in qualification Group A, behind Germany and Slovakia. They were one of the teams that were given a place in the draw as a result of their Nations League finish. 

Northern Ireland won three and lost three of their six World Cup qualifying matches, defeating Luxembourg twice and Slovakia once. They lost both matches against Germany and were beaten in second-half injury time away against Slovakia last week.

Fortunately for Italy, Northern Ireland have only won one of their last eight matches away from Windsor Park, and that came against Luxembourg who are currently ranked 103rd in the world. 

Northern Ireland’s strength is at the back: They only conceded six goals in qualifying, two goals fewer than Slovakia, who finished above them in the groups.

That is despite the fact that their strongest centre-back, Sunderland’s Dan Ballard, was only able to play in three of the qualifiers, missing two through injury and one through suspension. Northern Ireland only conceded one goal, against Germany, when the Sunderland defender was involved. 

The biggest star of the current Northern Ireland side is Liverpool’s Conor Bradley, who has most often featured at right wing-back in a 3-5-2 under Michael O’Neill. 

At club level, Bradley has started in all of Liverpool’s last seven Premier League fixtures and played the full 90 minutes in their recent 1-0 Champions League victory over Real Madrid. That is despite Liverpool’s €35m signing of Netherlands international Jeremie Frimpong over the summer. 

A player to keep an eye on is Swansea City’s Ethan Galbraith, who started in all but one of Northern Ireland’s qualifiers. 

A central midfielder, capable of covering in a lot of different roles, Galbraith came through the academy at Manchester United, and despite the fact that he was playing in League One last season, he has made a strong impression with his ball-winning across his 15 appearances in the Championship this term. 

Northern Ireland have struggled somewhat in front of goal throughout the qualifying campaign, and lack an obvious first-choice centre-forward.

They scored just seven goals in six qualifying matches, which came from six different goalscorers and one own goal. Jamie Reid, Shea Charles, Justin Devenny, Isaac Price, Trae Hume and Jamie Donley finished with one goal apiece. 

Of those goalscorers, Reid, currently playing in League One, is the only out-and-out centre-forward, although Donley, on loan at Stoke City from Tottenham, is also capable of playing in a number of attacking roles, as is West Brom’s Price.