PRESSURE? ITAL ALL BE ON THEM

O'Neill: Weight of expectation could bury Azzurri

- BY GARRY DOYLE

MICHAEL O'NEILL insists Northern Ireland can shock the world and send Italy crashing into yet another World Cup playoff nightmare.

The Italians — four-time world champions — are already scarred by back-to-back failures, missing Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 after suffering historic playoff collapses.

Now O'Neill believes his side can pile fresh misery on Gennaro Gattuso (right) and the Azzurri in March.

The Northern Ireland boss didn't pretend he wanted Italy — far from it — but he's convinced they can deliver the mother of all upsets.