Northern Ireland Ready to Challenge Italy in World Cup Qualifier

Ali McCann believes Northern Ireland can rise to the occasion when they face Italy in Thursday's World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final in Bergamo, drawing confidence from their previous encounter with the four-time world champions.

The 26-year-old midfielder is among four current squad members who featured when Italy visited Belfast in November 2021, resulting in a memorable 0-0 draw at Windsor Park that left the Italians second in Group C.

"We actually should have won that game at the end," McCann reflected on his third international cap. "We could have nicked it at the end, but we played really well that night."

That draw proved costly for Italy, who subsequently lost to North Macedonia in the play-offs, missing their second consecutive World Cup finals. For Northern Ireland, it demonstrated they could compete with Europe's elite.

Building on Qualifying Success

McCann emphasized the positive momentum from their qualifying campaign in Group A, where they secured an impressive victory over Slovakia and pushed Germany to their limits in two closely contested matches.

"We're in these games for a reason, and there's no reason why we can't go and get something from it," he said confidently. "The Slovakia game at home, we were brilliant. The two games against Germany, we played really well against a top-quality side."

Northern Ireland are bidding to reach their first World Cup since 1986, representing a generation's opportunity to make history for the nation.

Fitness Concerns and Leadership Changes

Despite missing Preston's last two games with an ankle injury, McCann has returned to training and expects to be available for Thursday's crucial encounter.

The recent appointment of Michael O'Neill as Blackburn manager, so close to the play-offs, raised eyebrows among supporters. However, McCann dismissed any concerns about divided attention.

"I don't think it makes a difference for us as players at all," he stated. "I'm sure the preparation this week will be the exact same as it always has been."

With confidence built on past performance and a squad united in purpose, Northern Ireland approach this historic opportunity with justified optimism.