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ROME — An embarrassing goal might be remembered as contributing to another epic failure if Italy fails to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and the entire Azzurri defense were protesting to the referee when Germany scored into an empty net en route to eliminating Italy in the Nations League quarterfinals. The result means Italy enters a five-team World Cup qualifying group featuring Erling Haaland's Norway instead of a four-team group in which the highest-ranked nation is Slovakia. Italy coach Luciano Spalletti says the goal in question "killed us."
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Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma reacts after the Nations League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Germany and Italy at the Signal-Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, Sunday, March 23, 2025. - AP Photo/Martin Meissner
