The draw against Switzerland, with a penalty missed by Jorginho in the 90th minute, complicates the blue situation in the race for the World Cup and multiplies the various combinations.

Anything can happen after the 1-1 at the Olimpico. The two tied leaders of Group C have 15 points, only one will go directly to the World Cup, the other will be forced into the play-offs.

On Monday the last day, with the Azzurri in Belfast against Northern Ireland, the Swiss at home against Bulgaria.

The criteria are goal difference, number of goals scored and then head-to-head matches. In the latter criterion, Switzerland is ahead due to the goal scored away, in the first leg they ended up 0-0.

Italy has two goals in the margin in terms of goal difference, +11 with 13 goals scored and 2 conceded, Switzerland is at +9 with 11 goals scored and two conceded.

Basically, you have to win in Belfast and hope that Switzerland doesn't score a goal against Bulgaria. The series is endless: Italy passes if they win and Switzerland wins with a maximum difference of one goal more than the Azzurri. If Italy, for example, wins 1-0 and Switzerland 3-0 both would end at 14-2 and Switzerland would pass for the away goal in the head-to-head matches. Another case in point: Italy wins 2-1, Switzerland 3-0: in this case we pass with the same goal difference for the number of goals scored (we would in fact be 15-3 against Switzerland's 14-2.

The only certainty is that 90 minutes of thrilling await us on Monday.

(Unioneonline / L)

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