It’s never easy to get straight back to work after a long time off. But not for Roberto Mancini’s Italy, who beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in Parma this evening and extended their unbeaten run to 23 games: 18 wins and five draws. Meanwhile, in the other game in the group, Switzerland coasted past Bulgaria with a 3-1 win.

127 days after beating Bosnia, the Azzurri rediscovered the same magic that saw them qualify for the Nations League finals (scheduled for October). A great goal from Dominico Berardi and a dazzling strike from Ciro Immobile in the first half sealed all three points for Italy, who got off to a flier in qualifying as they try to make good for the disappointment of missing Russia 2018. It was a great night for the Azzurri. After the long winter and with little less than three months until the start of this summer’s Euros, the road to Qatar began and will continue over the coming week with games against Bulgaria and Lithuania.

THE GAME –Italy’s players were wearing black armbands and a minute’s silence was held before kick-off in memory of five Azzurri greats, who are no longer with us: Pietro Anastasi, Mauro Bellugi, Mario Corso, Pierino Prati and Paolo Rossi. Images of the five players were shown on the big screen along with the message “Azzurri per sempre” (Azzurri forever), while the stadium announcer also took a moment to commemorate young Daniel Guerini, who passed away yesterday.

Mancini had no doubts about his team: Donnarumma in goal; Florenzi, Bonucci (who won his 100th cap), Chiellini and Emerson in defence; a midfield three of Pellegrini, Locatelli and Verratti; with an attacking trident formed of Berardi, Immobile and Insigne. The guests lined up with five at the back; Northern Ireland did little to hide their intentions to use their physicality and to close down the spaces. But it wasn’t enough against an in-form Italy side. The first chance of the game fell to Immobile, who did well to bring the ball down but he made poor contact with it and Peacock-Farrell easily held on to it (11’). In the 14th minute, however, Domenico Berardi made no mistakes, slotting home from a tight angle with a precise left-footed effort. It was the third goal in three consecutive games for the winner after scoring against Poland and Bosnia.  

The hosts were well in charge and Italy gave nothing away to the Green and White Army and moved the ball well in tight spaces and looked lethal on the counter. Peacock-Farrell denied Immobile (16’) before Emerson headed wide (19’). In the 23rd minute, Immobile’s backheeled pass released Insigne but his effort on the turn was straight down the middle. Italy doubled their lead after 37 minutes; Insigne’s ball forward found Immobile, who snuck the ball home at the near post for his first Italy goal since November 2019 against Armenia.

After the break, the Lazio striker remained in the thick of the action and threatened with a header that went just wide (50’). Italy then suffered a scare in the 56th minute but Donnarumma stood strong to keep out efforts from Magennis and Whyte. Mancini made his first change in the 63rd minute, bringing on Barella in place of Pellegrini. Insigne then did brilliantly to bring down the high ball and cut inside, but his ensuing effort was off target (68’).  

The tempo of the game certainly dropped as the match drew to a close and the Italy head coach saw fit to send on Spinazzola and Chiesa in place of Emerson and Berardi. The Azzurri perhaps lacked that cutting edge in the second half and seemed to have lost their initial energy. Before full time, Grifo and Pessina came on and there were chances on either side, with Spinazzola coming close to scoring Italy’s third.