The win at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome moved Italy into second in Group C behind already-qualified England. Qualifying would help the European champions bury the ghosts of last year's traumatic failure to qualify for a second straight World Cup. North Macedonia had become Italy's bogey team after denying Italy a spot in Qatar and drawing the previous group match in September. The spectre of another disaster reared its head when Jorginho missed yet another penalty in Italy colours five minutes before the break. Old demons could have come back to haunt Italy, but almost immediately Chiesa doubled the lead with a thumping low drive.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 18, 2023 15:08 UTC