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Join us for all the build-up and coverage as it happens from Italy’s opening 2026 World Cup qualifier against Erling Haaland’s Norway.
It kicks off at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT, 20.45 CET).
The Azzurri are in Group I along with Norway, Moldova, Estonia and Israel.
While this is the first match for coach Luciano Spalletti, Norway have already played and won two games to top the group.
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“It can be explained with the way the game went. We conceded the first goal that was avoidable, then in the open spaces, they had a couple of individual moves that caused us problems,” Spalletti told RAI Sport.
“After that, it was all more difficult.”
The first and indeed only shot on target was from Lorenzo Lucca in stoppages, which wasn’t even a difficult save. Why was there simply no reaction from the Nazionale, similar to the EURO 2024 debacle against Switzerland?
“After going 2-0 down, they sat back in their own half, it was difficult to find spaces, but above all the lack of players who could take players on in one-on-one situations made the difference.”
Only the top team goes through directly to the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico, while runners-up enter the play-offs, so this defeat is already a huge blow for qualifying hopes.
Italy missed out on the last two World Cup competitions in 2018 and 2022 by faltering at the play-off stage.
Spalletti was asked if this result and performance puts the entire Italy project in doubt.
“I am the head of this group, it is a squad I chose and so I continue with them. We need to improve in certain aspects, because we cannot give advantages to the opponents by gifting the ball,” replied the coach.
“This is the best group that we evaluated, so we continue with these players.”
“I have no explanation right now. I am here only because I respect the media, but we must recognise this performance was not what the fans deserve.
“We have to take a good look at ourselves and try to emerge from this hole all together.”
The Azzurri need to give a strong reaction in their second match, which will be on Monday evening against Moldova in Reggio Emilia.
“We must find the strength within ourselves, first and foremost. We are Italy, this sort of match is unacceptable. We’ve got to sit down, each of us admit our faults and then get out of it together.”
Dreadful. Just dreadful.
Wow!
Orsolini cross, Lucca header is easy for Nyland to pluck out of the air, but it’s a shot on goal!
And receives suitably sarcastic cheers from the crowd.
Into 4 minutes of added time.
Goalkeeper flaps a cross to the edge of the box, where Di Lorenzo’s effort is deflected for a corner.
Orsolini has a snapshot from distance. It’s nowhere near the target, but that is probably the closest Italy have come.
Orsolini is fouled by a flailing arm, but the resulting free kick is pumped into the box by Dimarco with little to show for it.
That’s what this performance is similar to. Switzerland in Euro 2024. Just non-existent.
Sorloth replaced by Larsen.
Norway are still pressing Donnarumma and forcing errors. Italy just gave up.
Ricci and Dimarco on, Raspadori and Udogie off.
Luckily, Norway aren’t very good with corners this evening.
We just realised we’ve never mentioned the Norwegian goalkeeper’s name. He might’ve gone for a cup of tea.
Pedersen and Bobb on for Norway, Moller Wolfe and Nusa off.
Heggem off, Ostigard on for Norway
Zappacosta and Retegui off for Italy, Orsolini and Lucca on.
Moller Wolfe gets down the left and rolls across, but Donnarumma smothers at the near post.
Almost 4-0, Berge scorcher from outside the area that smacked against the far post!
Referee unhappy with the presence of the camera operator too close to the pitch.
Coppola frankly impressive in defence, another important interception to stop Haaland going clear.
Zappacosta hasn’t played for Italy for 7 years. This should probably tell us something.
Italy fans are hurling insults now. The 850 who came here to shiver and get drenched. And watch THIS. Surprised they kept this patient.
Coppola nods this corner clear. Italy making no in-roads in attack.
this team clearly does not want to play for Spaletti. Something needs to change…NOW!
Zappacosta and Di Lorenzo, two aging defenders on the right side against the fast and up-for-it Nusa were clearly a mistake. Not helped by the dopey performance from Bastoni and IUdogie on the first and third goals.
Ricci for Rovella, Orsolini for Raspadori, Frattesi for Barella should be the call now.
That’s another world cup we’re not playing in!
Italy has zero dribblers on the pitch , tell spaletti if you don’t start ,at least 3 players between, chiesa ,baldanzi, zaniolo, insigne , Vincenzo grifo , HE SHOULD BE SACKED .
What a shame! If you dont have any player who can take one on one, call up Chiesa. He didnt play much this season, which means he is fresh. Spain keeps calling unai Simon although he didnt play.
Point 1 Italy won’t qualify automatically now, so play offs again. Point 2 because of this Spalletti must be sacked immediately, must start with new coach now to get us through play offs. Point 3 new coach has to be foreign i.e. Spanish, German, French (Zidane). We can’t continue with this fear factor of the opposition which seems ingrained in Italian mentality from the press to the coaches and so to the players. Point 4 this was coming since the Euros, but they persisted with Spalletti, a coach totally out of his depth in International football.