Northern Ireland 0-0 Italy LIVE SCORE: Azzurri need to score TWO to avoid World Cup play-off as Switzerland run riot

ITALY are goalless in Northern Ireland and heading to the World Cup play-offs as things stand.

The Euro 2020 winners spurned their chance to reach Qatar earlier this week when Jorginho blazed his penalty over in a 1-1 draw against Switzerland.

And the Swiss now have a three-goal lead against Bulgaria, which places them top of the group as things stand.

That also means that Italy must score TWICE to make it to Qatar automatically.

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  • William Pugh

    N. IRELAND 0 – 0 ITALY

    80. SUB!

    Scamacca ON

    Emerson OFF

    BOOKED!

    Peacock-Farrell for time wasting.

  • William Pugh

    N. IRELAND 0 – 0 ITALY

    82. CHANCE!

    OH MY GOODNESS!

    N. Ireland break, some beautiful inter-play sees Lewis in space on the left.

    He cuts it back, Davis steps over it and it falls to Dallas in acres of space around 20 yards out with the whole stadium willing it in.

    He fires a right-footed effort in but he also drags it mere inches wide. That was the moment.

  • William Pugh

    N. IRELAND 0 – 0 ITALY

    80. CHANCE!

    Former Chelsea left-back Emerson gets fed about 25 yards out and he tries a shot from distance.

    It fizzes just wide of the right hand post and the ref points for a corner despite replays showing it went straight out.

  • William Pugh

    N. IRELAND 0 – 0 ITALY

    79. Washington getting the crowd going here by busting a gut to shut down Bonucci around half-way as Italy prepare to throw on another striker.

  • William Pugh

    N. IRELAND 0 – 0 ITALY

    73. SUBS

    IN

    Corry Evans, Conor Washington.

    OUT

    Saville, Whyte.

  • William Pugh

    N. IRELAND 0 – 0 ITALY

    CHANCE!

    75. Washington played in down the right, he holds off a challenge, bursts into the side of the penalty box, tries to slide it across but it cannons off Bonucci's leg and out for a corner.

    N. Ireland might fancy getting a win here as Italy take more and more risks going forward.

  • William Pugh

    GROUP C UPDATE – SWITZERLAND GOAL!

    Italy need to win at least 2-0 here to qualify automatically!

    Cedric Itten put the Swiss 3-0 up against Bulgaria which means Italy's head-to-head record against the Swiss will see them lose out even if they get a 1-0 win here.

  • William Pugh

    N. IRELAND 0 – 0 ITALY

    69. SUBS!

    OFF

    Jorginho, Insigne.

    ON

    Bernadeschi, Locatelli.

  • William Pugh

    N. IRELAND 0 – 0 ITALY

    68. CHANCE!

    Hearts in mouths time.

    Long ball over Lewis' head, ball played back in, Evans nearly heads it into his own net, Peacock-Farrell keeps it out and it goes out for a corner.

  • William Pugh

    N. IRELAND 0 – 0 ITALY

    64. SUBS!

    Belotti ON

    Barella OFF

  • William Pugh

    N. IRELAND 0 – 0 ITALY

    63. CHANCE!

    Italy with their biggest chance of the match.

    Berardi receives the ball on the edge of the box.

    His tight turn leaves two defenders out the game, he feeds Chiesa who works some space but puts his left footed bending effort just wide of the far post.

  • William Pugh

    GROUP C UPDATE – SWITZERLAND GOAL!

    Now this is getting interesting!

    Switzerland 2 – 0 Bulgaria

    57. Ruben Vargas doubles Switzerland's lead.

    Italy still need to win to qualify automatically but if the Swiss make it 3-0 then Italy need to win at least 2-0 to avoid the play-offs.

    This is exhilarating stuff.

  • William Pugh

    N. IRELAND 0 – 0 ITALY

    59. Berardi's left footed effort makes it over the wall but Peacock-Farrell steps to his left and gathers the weak shot easily.

    Mancini clenches his jaw just a little more on the touchline. 

  • William Pugh

    N. IRELAND 0 – 0 ITALY

    57. BOOKING!

    Magennis picks up a yellow for a shoulder charge into the back of Berardi and Italy win a free-kick in a dangerous position 10 yards off the corner of the penalty area. 

  • William Pugh

    N. IRELAND 0 – 0 ITALY

    55. Italy's fans looked panicked in the corner and Roberto Mancini is having intense conversations with his staff as news of that Switzerland goal filters through to Windsor Park. 

  • William Pugh

    GROUP C UPDATE – SWITZERLAND GOAL!

    SWITZERLAND HAVE SCORED!

    Italy are in trouble.

    Switzerland 1 – 0 Bulgaria.

    48. Noah Okafor puts the home side ahead meaning if both games stay like this, Italy drop into the play-offs and Switzerland will qualify automatically.

  • William Pugh

    N. IRELAND 0 – 0 ITALY

    50. CHANCE!

    MASSIVE CHANCE FOR N. IRELAND!

    Whyte finds Lewis just inside Italy's box with an inch-perfect pass.

    The left-back cushions a perfect volleyed pass to Saville who was in acres of space on the penalty spot but his left-footed effort was blocked by a last-ditch lunge by Bonucci.

  • William Pugh

    N. IRELAND 0 – 0 ITALY

    49. CHANCE!

    Insigne's driving run sees him get a right-footed effort off from the edge of the box.

    But he drags it wide.

    He was allowed to run a long long way there which will concern the home side.

  • William Pugh

    N. IRELAND 0 – 0 ITALY

    47. Italy win an attacking free-kick but once again, their apparent fear of swinging it into the middle sees them try an elaborate set-piece manoeuvre which goes straight out for a goal kick.

    Rubbish.

  • William Pugh

    KICK-OFF!

    We're off and underway in the second-half and we're expecting more of the same.

    Exciting 45 coming up.

    SUB

    Cristante ON

    Tonali OFF

  • William Pugh

    GROUP C UPDATE

    Both games in Group C are goalless at half-time.

    And if it stays like this at Windsor Park and neither Bulgaria or the Swiss can break the deadlock in Lucerne, Italy qualify and Switzerland go to the play-offs.

    But surely that's not going to happen…

  • William Pugh

    STAT ATTACK

    Here's the facts and figures from that first-half at Windsor Park.

  • William Pugh

    HALF-TIME!

    N. IRELAND 0 – 0 ITALY

    Superb first-half showing from the home side who have frustrated the Italians.

    Neither side have had any clear cut chances but Italy's will be a nervous dressing room at half-time.

    The home fans did not stop for most of that first-half and the players – particularly the defenders – have responded brilliantly.

  • William Pugh

    N. IRELAND 0 – 0 ITALY

    45. And Italy go for one last attack in normal time.

    Chiesa flies down the left but Flanagan is equal to it as he rushes over to close the cross down.

  • William Pugh

    N. IRELAND 0 – 0 ITALY

    43. But it comes to nothing.

    Saville swings it in but it's headed away at the near post.

    But an Insigne handball gives the home side another chance to launch one into the box.

    Headed away.

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