Ten months after failing to qualify for the World Cup, Italy still doesn’t look World Cup-worthy.
Playing their first competitive match since last year’s playoff loss to Sweden, the Azzurri required a late penalty to draw with Poland 1-1 at home on Friday in the UEFA Nations League.
Brazilian-born midfielder Jorginho converted the spot kick after substitute Federico Chiesa earned the penalty for Italy.
Poland went ahead late in the first half when Piotr Zielinski volleyed in a cross from Robert Lewandowski.
It was Zielinski’s third goal this season past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, having also scored two in Napoli’s 3-2 win over AC Milan in Serie A last month.
In the first competitive match for new Italy coach Roberto Mancini, Federico Bernerdeschi also produced a couple of dangerous chances.
Mario Balotelli played for just over an hour without any impact before exiting apparently injured.
Italy’s only victory in its last eight matches was in May, when it beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 in a friendly.
The Azzurri are ranked 21st by FIFA — one spot behind Peru and one spot ahead of the United States — for their worst status since FIFA introduced the rankings system 25 years ago.
Italy next visits Cristiano Ronaldo-less Portugal on Monday.
In League B, Russia won at Turkey 2-1 to build on its World Cup quarterfinal appearance.
In League C, it was: Albania 1, Israel 0; Lithuania 0, Serbia 1; and Romania 0, Montenegro 0.
In League D, it was: Azerbaijan 0, Kosovo 0; and Faeroe Islands 3, Malta 1.
