It's like the old joke about buses: you wait hours for one, and then two come along at once. Except in reverse. Italy went 60 years without missing a World Cup and now, after Thursday's 1-0 playoff defeat to North Macedonia, they've missed the last two buses to the biggest show on Earth.
- Highlights: Italy stunned by North Macedonia (U.S.)
It might feel jarring that the side that won the European Championships just eight months ago, the team that, before Thursday night, had lost just one of its previous 39 games (setting a world record unbeaten streak along the way) should go out to North Macedonia (population: 1.