BREAKING: ITALY ARE OUT OF THE 2022 WORLD CUP TOURNAMENT IN QATAR!

The European Champions Italy will not be at the World Cup in Qatar after suffering a late shocking 1-0 defeat to North Macedonia in the play-off semi-final.

Italy have failed to qualify for back-to-back World Cups for the first time in their history, after missing out of the 2018 edition in Russia.

North Macedonia, who have never previously participated at the World Cup, produced a high spirited display and prevailed despite Italy having most attempts (34) in Thursday's playoff semifinal in Palermo.

Aleksandar Trajkovski, a former Palermo striker scored with a fine finish in the 92nd minute for North Macedonia, who are ranked 60 places below Italy in the FIFA rankings.

Roberto Mancini to Rai Sport after the game:  "I’m more than disappointed, I’ve nothing to say. Something incredible happened tonight. We deserved to win the Euros, now we’ve been really unlucky… but that’s it, that’s the reality. I’m sorry for the players.

Speaking on his future after Italy miss out on 2022 World Cup, Mancini said;

"We will see. Now I feel too disappointed to speak about my future, we will see.

“I’m sure this team has a great future. I’m supporting these players now more than ever."

North Macedonia will now take on Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in the playoff final on Tuesday with a place in Qatar on the line.

Portugal defeated Turkey 3-1, thanks to first-half  goals from Otavio and Diogo Jota that gave them a comfortable lead at the break. The visitors pulled one back through Burak Yilmaz.

Turkey could've got on level terms but Yilmaz failed to convert a penalty five minutes from time before Matheus Nunes wrapped up the win for Portugal deep into injury time.