Published Mar 23, 6:08am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Mar 23, 6:08am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Mar 23, 6:10am ET
The final World Cup spots will be filled this week, as the important playoffs are staged. Find the odds and our Italy vs. Northern Ireland picks here.
Italy have failed to qualify for the last two editions of the competition, and fell into the playoffs after finishing second in the opening round. Northern Ireland will present a serious challenge in Bergamo.
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|---|---|
| Italy | -335 |
| The Draw | +381 |
| Northern Ireland | +975 |
There will be immense pressure on four-time world champions Italy this week, as they bid to avoid missing out on a third edition of the World Cup. Led by Gennaro Gattuso, Italy finished second in the Group I standings, winning six of their eight qualifiers, and finishing six points behind Norway.
The European heavyweights nearly saved their qualification campaign, winning six on the bounce before losing 4-1 in Milan against Norway in November.
Gattuso has named an experienced squad for this must-win clash, with Sandro Tonali included despite being forced off for Newcastle in their latest fixture. Mateo Retegui will likely lead the line after scoring 15 in 25 games for Al-Qadsiah in 2025-26.
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It has been a long wait since Northern Ireland last reached the World Cup, as the nation last reached the finals in 1986. Since then, qualification has been a major challenge, winning no more than two fixtures in five cycles.
However, they showed their quality in a competitive Group A, finishing third behind Germany and Slovakia after winning half of their six fixtures. But, the team have struggled on the road, losing four of their last five.
Michael O’Neill has kept faith with the vast majority of the players that played throughout qualification, with central defenders Daniel Bollard and Paddy McNair likely to be key to their chances in Italy.
| TOTAL | Italy | Northern Ireland | DRAWS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Goals | 8 | 8 | 0 |
Italy should have the quality to break down a resolute Northern Ireland in this semi-final, and their case is made stronger based on the fact that the visitors have failed to score in their last five fixtures with the Italians.
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Pick
Italy
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