Materazzi: There Are No Easy Opponents

Picture : Team Italy

Former Italian national team defender Marco Materazzi commented on the UEFA World Cup play-off draw results. Italy's national team will first face Northern Ireland. According to Materazzi, there are no easy opponents. "There are no easy games and no easy rivals. However, this is our last chance, as we have already missed the World Cup twice. We must prepare for a tough challenge and play with a serious mindset," Materazzi said in an interview, should be noted that the Italian national team has won the FIFA World Cup title four times, the most recent being in 2006.

Italy will face Northern Ireland in the European playoffs in their bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup while Sweden meet Ukraine as 16 teams learned the pathways that determine the four remaining European slots for the global tournament.

Four-times world champions Italy again failed to secure direct qualification after finishing second in their group as they seek to qualify for the first time since the 2014 edition.