Night of Belief: Can Northern Ireland Shock Italy Again?

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Players of Italy during the warms up during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Northern Ireland and Italy will clash in the European play-offs of the 2026 World Cup qualification. The Italians are considered the clear favourites, but Gennaro Gattuso’s team shouldn’t underestimate their opponents.

It’s not just that this might be Italy’s third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup. Northern Ireland’s style of play makes them difficult opponents, capable of causing the Squadra Azzurra some very real problems. Read more about the upcoming battle in the 1xBet Ireland review.

Psychological trap for Italy

Northern Ireland’s main trump card in this match is not the roster or tactics, but the enormous pressure their opponents are under. The team that has won fewer World Cups than only Brazil (5 times against 4) will take to the pitch with the burden of having missed two Mundials in a row.

In Italy, this is regarded not just as a sporting failure but as a national disaster. And although Serie A, an official partner of global betting company 1xBet, is still one of the strongest leagues in the world, many of its top stars aren’t Italian. The fear of failure in the qualification led to the dismissal of Luciano Spalletti, who had previously done a great job with Napoli and then instantly proved his high level at Juventus. If the national team fails to qualify for the third consecutive World Cup, it will mean a 12-year absence from the competition. Moreover, the Italians last played in the knockout stage in 2006, when they became world champions.

This situation creates perfect conditions for the underdogs. While Italy struggle with anxiety and ghosts of the past, Northern Ireland can afford to play without pressure. In football, it is often the team that makes the best use of its chances that wins.

History doesn’t favour Squadra Azzurra

Looking back at history, Italy have reason to be concerned. Northern Ireland have twice prevented Italy from qualifying for the Mundial. In the 1958 World Cup qualification, the Squadra Azzurra lost 1-2 to Northern Ireland in the last game, even though a draw would have been enough. That victory was Northern Ireland’s first and so far only win in 11 matches against Italy. In 1958, the Green and White Army went to the World Cup for the first time and reached the quarter-finals of the tournament.

Italy’s second failure came in the qualification for the previous World Cup in Qatar. Before the last round, Italy and Switzerland had the same number of points, but while the Swiss were crushing Bulgaria 4-0 at home, Italy couldn’t score in Belfast. The final score of 0-0 sent Roberto Mancini’s team into the play-offs, where the Squadra Azzurra were eliminated.

Italy rely more on emotions than tactics

During his tenure, Spalletti tried to get the team to play more attacking football with a high defensive line. But he was unable to make it work. The coach just didn’t have enough time to work out the complex ideas and didn’t want to keep things too simple.

The Squadra Azzurra often struggled against opponents who focused heavily on defence. Italy would pass the ball around the penalty area for a long time, only to fail to convert their chances. And when their opponents had fast players capable of organising counterattacks, as was the case with Norway, Italian fans had little to look forward to.

In June last year, Italy lost 0-3 in an away game against Norway, after which Spalletti was dismissed as national team coach. Gennaro Gattuso, the legendary Milan player, was called in to save the day, despite having fewer coaching achievements to his name than Spalletti.

At half-time in the home match against Estonia, with the score at 0-0, Gattuso slapped his players in the dressing room. It worked – Italy won 5-0. But fans expect smarter coaching decisions in the country where tactics have always been the top priority.

Northern Ireland feel comfortable giving the initiative to their opponents. In October’s home match against Germany, Die Mannschaft won 1-0 but created few chances, while Michael O’Neill’s team missed several good opportunities to score.

After winning the ball, the Green and White Army immediately try to pass it forward. If they manage to exploit the space behind Italy’s defenders, Northern Ireland could cause problems for the favourites. Another weapon of O’Neill’s team is set pieces, which Italy occasionally struggle with.

How you can earn money on this and other matches with 1xBet Ireland

1xBet offers all new users a €40 WELCOME OFFER IN FREE BETS WHEN YOU BET €10. And for those who have already registered, there’s another great offer – get even more thrills with the 1xBet Lucky Friday promo!

Want to know the terms and conditions?

1. Log in to the 1xBet website or app.
2. Click the Take Part button on the promo page.
3. Deposit at least €1, and the amount equal to 100% of your deposit will be credited to your bonus account.

The maximum bonus amount is €300. To receive the bonus, you must wager it three times by placing accumulator bets including 3+ events with odds of at least 1.4 for each event.

The promo is available every Friday. Important: when betting with 1xBet, you don’t need to wonder is 1xBet legal in Ireland? You’re placing bets with a legal bookmaker that has an official licence to operate in our country. This means that you don’t need to worry about the payment of winnings, and the transfer will be made as quickly as possible.

Unlike you, Italy may face problems, so they should take the game against Northern Ireland with the utmost seriousness. Place bets on this and other matches and get the most out of 1xBet sports betting Ireland!

18+. T&Cs apply. Gamble responsibly