PSG midfielder Marco Verratti admits he's baffled by Italy World Cup playoffs elimination by North Macedonia.

A 1-0 defeat in Sicily means Italy miss this year's World Cup in Qatar.

“It is difficult to understand. I think we dominated this match and we should've won. We had to win," Verratti told RAI Sport.

“We had to score early and get it closed off, because we were superior, we could've done better. This is football, it is fundamental to be clinical and ruthless. It's just so difficult to explain. It was a nightmare.

“Looking around the locker room, we had the players to challenge for the tournament itself, yet here we are talking about a disaster. It's so tough to go from hero to zero.

“We experienced special times together and I will always be proud of my teammates. This is football, you need to score goals. We didn't manage it, but we gave everything we had. It wasn't enough.

“We have to ask ourselves questions now. There's some bad luck, but you also need to make your own luck."