World Cup Qualification, UEFA 2026, Semifinals · 26 Mar 2026

Italy 2–0 Northern Ireland

Expected and what happened

Before the match, from team ratings for Feb 2026; the outlined result is what happened.

Footybot made Italy favourites at 76%.

No xG was recorded for this match, so only the result can be read.

Best on the pitch by Footybot's score: Federico Dimarco, 87.5 in 90′.

Well above their usual level: Terry Devlin +38.0, Brodie Spencer +34.2, Shea Charles +31.3.

Each side's last five results before this match.

16 Nov 2025	L 1–4	v Norway World Cup Qualification UEFA
13 Nov 2025	W 2–0	at Moldova World Cup Qualification UEFA
14 Oct 2025	W 3–0	v Israel World Cup Qualification UEFA
11 Oct 2025	W 3–1	at Estonia World Cup Qualification UEFA
8 Sep 2025	W 5–4	at Israel World Cup Qualification UEFA

17 Nov 2025	W 1–0	v Luxembourg World Cup Qualification UEFA
14 Nov 2025	L 0–1	at Slovakia World Cup Qualification UEFA
13 Oct 2025	L 0–1	v Germany World Cup Qualification UEFA
10 Oct 2025	W 2–0	v Slovakia World Cup Qualification UEFA
7 Sep 2025	L 1–3	at Germany World Cup Qualification UEFA

No earlier meeting in Footybot's data.

Player	Min	G	A	xG	Score	vs usual
Federico Dimarco Midfielder	90	0	0	–	87.5	+23.0
Manuel Locatelli Midfielder	90	0	0	–	63.4	+9.7
Alessandro Bastoni Defender	63	0	0	–	62.9	+10.1
Francesco Pio Esposito Forward	26	0	0	–	62.8	–
Mateo Retegui Forward	64	0	0	–	61.6	+13.3
Nicolò Barella Midfielder	90	0	0	–	58.2	+2.9
Sandro Tonali Midfielder	83	1	1	–	54.7	+2.0
Gianluca Mancini Defender	90	0	0	–	54.3	+6.2
Riccardo Calafiori Defender	90	0	0	–	54.2	−3.8
Gianluigi Donnarumma Goalkeeper	90	0	0	–	53.9	+1.9
Matteo Politano Midfielder	83	0	0	–	48.0	−1.6
Moise Kean Forward	88	1	0	–	44.4	−5.4
Niccolò Pisilli Midfielder	10	0	0	–	43.2	–
Federico Gatti Defender	27	0	0	–	39.4	–
Giacomo Raspadori Forward	2	0	0	–	36.8	–
Marco Palestra Midfielder	10	0	0	–	31.2	–

Player	Min	xG	Score	vs usual
Terry Devlin Defender	68	–	70.9	+38.0
Shea Charles Midfielder	90	–	70.9	+31.3
Trai Hume Defender	90	–	68.8	+26.2
Brodie Spencer Defender	79	–	63.3	+34.2
Paddy McNair Defender	90	–	63.1	+29.0
Justin Devenny Midfielder	90	–	61.2	+16.2
Ruairi McConville Defender	90	–	60.4	+17.1
Ethan Galbraith Midfielder	90	–	53.6	+20.5
Pierce Charles Goalkeeper	90	–	52.1	+5.2
Isaac Price Midfielder	90	–	42.3	+8.4
Jamie Reid Forward	11	–	41.7	–
Paul Smyth Midfielder	22	–	41.4	–
Jamie Donley Midfielder	79	–	38.1	+7.4
Josh Magennis Forward	11	–	36.9	–