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Photo: Liam Mcburney / dpa
It's strange with these World Cup qualifiers.
Idle for months like this, without any real events, at most dutifully watched by annoyed fans who would rather see their clubs - and then, suddenly, such a furious last game day.
Portugal only in the play-off, the European champions from 2016. Italy as well, the European champions from: 2021. It was just four months ago.
What happened so convincingly at Wembley Stadium in London, now absolutely did not want to happen in Windsor Park in Belfast.
Where the great England was defeated in the summer, there was no longer even enough for the little Northern Ireland in the autumn.
It was 0-0 on Monday evening, and that was far too little, because Switzerland, who had previously been on points and almost tied, won 4-0 against Bulgaria at the same time.
She goes straight to the World Cup, Italy has to go to the particularly uncomfortable relegation this time: twelve teams play for three places in March, in the second round there is not even the usual favorite cushion of a seeding list and only the 50 percent chance of a home game.
The fear of the "Spareggio"
Italy's zero number in Belfast was a lot, but ultimately no longer a surprise.
After the 1-1 draw against Switzerland on Friday in the Olympic Stadium at home, the bird's eye view did not have to be attempted to predict the future, as was the case with the ancient Romans.
A look at football history was enough for mystics to predict.
It was in Belfast in 1958 that Italy failed in a World Cup qualification for the first of two times.
The second time?
Just recently, before the 2018 World Cup. In the play-off.
Or, as it is called in Italian: »Spareggio«.
Tie breaker.
The mere mention of the word conjures up darkest spirits in Italy.
It will be long months until March.
The failure against Sweden back then (0: 1, 0: 0) not only led to discussions about the decadence of Calcio in particular and of the whole country in general, during which no one could imagine that 2021 would be one of the greatest Italian success years in history would follow (Eurovision Song Contest, EM, 100-meter Olympic run). At least until the Downer from Belfast. Italy's complete blockade against the Scandinavians was also a lesson in the special psychology that can make crucial qualifying matches so uncomfortable for the so-called big football nations.
If Italy's Jorginho missed a penalty in both games against Switzerland, if Portugal failed at home to Serbia after taking the lead or Spain only survived their group final against Sweden happily, then that's also due to an initial constellation that strains the nerves like no other. The little ones have little to lose in moments like this, but in the self-image of the big ones there is nothing worse than missing the four-year soccer fair, possibly even in an embarrassing way from a comfortable position. "The pressure was greater than at the European Championship," said Spain coach Luis Enrique. "If the result seems simple for historical reasons, it overloads you with responsibility."
The very prospect of failure stirs up unfamiliar panic, its possible occurrence is then considered a shame for eternity.
In France every football fan still knows the name of the Bulgarian Emil Kostadinow, who eliminated the Bleus in 1993 with a last-minute goal in Paris.
In England, coach Steve McClaren will forever remain the "idiot with the umbrella" in qualifying elimination against Croatia in London in 2007 (before a European Championship).
And in Germany fans to this day only love to sing: "Without Holland we're going to the World Cup".
The Netherlands themselves fear the playoff
Ever since they failed to qualify with one of the most talented generations in their history in 2001, the Dutch have been considered specialists in failing too quickly. Like Italy, they were not there in 2018, this weekend they managed to lose a two-goal lead in Montenegro with the goal of just being able to see them. Now they have to go to a group final against Norway today, a defeat would probably even bring them to the play-offs. As in 2002, the coach's name is Louis van Gaal.
The one from Italy is still called Roberto Mancini after Belfast.
He can't help the fact that a title euphoria likes to be followed by disillusionment and that the traumas of 2018 were aroused more with each shaky result.
Maybe he could have named another penalty taker after Jorginho's misses in the European Championship final and the first leg in Switzerland - then he wouldn't have to complain "that such dropouts in crucial games logically got us into trouble."
It is stuck in the team soul
In contrast, the Belfast sadness seemed to be only an announced disappointment for Mancini. On the one hand, he is considered to be inclined to topics such as superstition and providence, and as a specialist, he knew only too well that goals at home against Bulgaria are easier than away in Northern Ireland: the British have not conceded any in the entire qualification at Windsor Park. Against their physically imposing defensive line, Italy initially tried quite skillfully with a "wrong nine" and passes on the ground, but in the second half only with high desperate flanks - Northern Irish defend nothing more relaxed.
When the last one was beheaded from the penalty area, Italy's captain Leonardo Bonucci gave an honest insight into the team's soul.
"We have to go back to the field with the ease and group spirit that made us European champions," he said.
“Something got stuck after this triumph”.
And should that resolve itself before the nerve-wracking play-off?
Mancini was “absolutely confident.
We'll qualify for the World Cup in March and then maybe we'll win it «.
What they say, the Portuguese colleague Fernando Santos expressed himself in a similar way the previous evening in Lisbon.
Favorite status obligated - and both will probably only realize when studying the play-off modalities that it could even go against each other in the second, decisive round.
The drawing will take place on November 26th.
