Mamma mia! European Champions are missing the second World Cup in a row

What do Denmark, Greece and Italy have in common? Well, basically, they're the only European champions to miss the World Cup following their glorious continental pursuit.

It happened with Denmark after their EURO 1992 title; it repeated with Greece, which failed to qualify for the WC 2006; and now with Italy.

Macedonian miracle! Trajkovski's euro goal destroyed European champions in Palermo

However, there's a nuance we should not neglect, and it has to do with the importance and the expectations related to Azzuri.

Unlike Denmark and Greece - those undisputable underdogs and their sensational achievements, which are considered incidents in the history of the game - this sort of shortcoming is awful for the Italians.

They adore football, they bread football, and to be left without two consecutive WC appearances for the nation of such preferences is as excruciating as it gets.

If we put their previous displays on the biggest stage under some more scrutiny, we'll see the three-time world champions have been suffering even before that first major flop during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Precisely, they left out of the 2010 WC and 2014 WC in the group stage, which means their last World Cup knockout stage game was as recently as 2006. Yes, the exact finals against France, which brought Azzurri the world glory after the penalty shootout and that notorious Zidane vs Materazzi incident.

"I am proud of my teammates and the whole team. It is clear that we are upset. Now we need a restart. We are emptied and destroyed. We hope you will give us the strength to move forward again. I believe that we will still have Roberto Mancini in the dugout because he gave so much good to us. I hope that we will qualify for the World Cup in four years, " veteran Giorgio Chiellini said after the defeat.

Joao Pedro of Italy reacts during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier knockout round play-off match between Italy and North Macedonia at Stadio Comunale Renzo Barbera on March 24, 2022 in Palermo, Italy . (©Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

At the same time, the mentioned Mancini was gutted for the loss.

"Just as winning the European Championship was the best experience in my life, so this elimination is the biggest disappointment. There is nothing to say except that this is football as well. Something unbelievable has happened.

"First of all, we shouldn't have played playoffs.

"We dominated the group, we only needed a moment to go directly to the World Cup, and it didn't happen, although we could have verified the WC visa twice before the playoffs. It seems to me that the goal conceded in the 92nd minute is appropriate after everything we have experienced, " concluded Mancini.

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Their last night 1-0 loss to North Macedonia was the first one - ok, once more - the first home defeat in the WC qualifiers ever. Wow.