Northern Ireland suffered a 2-0 defeat against Italy in their World Cup play-off semi-final on Thursday. The match, held at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, ended the visitors' hopes of qualifying for the tournament. Mateo Retegui opened the scoring for the hosts in the first half, before Nicolo Barella doubled the advantage after the interval.
Defender Paddy McNair expressed frustration following the result, stating that Italy were there for the taking during the contest. Despite creating several openings, Northern Ireland failed to convert their chances against the reigning European champions. The defeat means Michael O'Neill's squad will not progress to the play-off final scheduled for next week, according to Sky Sports.
Italy dominated possession throughout the match but faced pressure from a disciplined Northern Irish defence. The result marks a significant disappointment for O'Neill's side, who had reached the play-offs following a competitive qualifying campaign. According to The Guardian, the Italian national team now advances to face their next opponent for a spot in the finals.
