Italy’s group qualification for the 2026 World Cup ends withanother disappointment and a second defeat against Erving Haaland’s Norway, who needed just one half to sink Gennaro Gattuso’s eleven. The Azzurri are started strongcapitalized on the visitors’ somewhat defeatist approach and took the lead through Pio Esposito’s first goal at San Siro. Italy continued to press but, despite creating many chances, Didn’t find the duplicate. When they returned to the pitch after the break, the Norwegians were a completely different team: the Azzurri held out for about ten minutes but, in the end, were punished first by youngster Nusa, then by deadly double from Haaland, who established himself as the top scorer. In the end, Norway also scored a 4-1 in the last minutes through Ostigaard and closed the qualifying group with full points, with the best goal difference among all European teams: Italy had to play everything for everything in the playoffs for the third time in a row.
Norway closed, Pio Esposito still scored
Although the Azzurri were forced to take action nine goals to Norway to avoid the ordeal of the world play-offs, Meazza’s enthusiasm tries to drag Gattuso’s eleven players towards an objective result almost impossible. If the first acceleration was that Halland attempted a central route, finding the attentive Bastoni, Italy managed to move forward in just over time a bit complicatedclashed with the Scandinavian defense. Norway, who already had a World Cup ticket, did not show their usual ferocious determination and Italy tried to take advantage of this by pressing down the flanks, where the Bastoni-Dimarco axis worked well. It was the winger who capitalized on Politano’s good work down the right, and the Neapolitan’s cross went wide. Azzurri assist thanks to a boner by Ryerson, whose control was to be forgotten: Dimarco got the better of the rebound and provided a perfect ball for the onrushing Pio Esposito who turned and scored the blue lead. Norway seems to be dismantled and, as well as suffering on the right, they also had to defend until the end: the fact that in the first 15 minutes, the Azzurri had more than 60% of the ball possession was a sign that the match was progressing without too many problems.
Gattuso’s eleven continued to press relentlessly, with the generous Politano appearing in both phases except the Norway goal he didn’t risk muchapart from some unrealistic shots from Locatelli and Dimarco. Neither Politano nor the Inter player were very precise in their crosses between the 20th and 23rd minutes but the most interesting data is the conclusion: a very clear 5-0 for the Azzurri, with Norway unable to come close to Donnarumma. After half an hour of playing at a good pace, Italy take your foot off the gas pedal and Scandinavian society was content to stop the game and avoid the worst possible outcome. The first shot towards the blue goal came in the 31st minute, Nusa’s shot ending high over the crossbar: Italy respond with a counterattack however, despite winning several corners, there was no way to overcome the Norwegian grenadiers. In the 36th minute, Pio Esposito’s cross was much more dangerous as he well met Dimarco’s cross and placed the ball. almost nothing: a few minutes later the Nerazzurri striker fell again in the middle of the penalty box, but for the Spanish trio and VAR everything was fine. The magnanimous Retegui fought without sparing himself, committing too many fouls but the end of the first half was decidedly boring, so much so that it led to derision from the Milanese public towards a Beat Norway.
Haaland got up and turned Italy’s situation around
There were no changes in the first half but Norway came out of the dressing room very different from being too obedient seen in the first half. Not even a minute had passed before Sorloth immediately looked for a goal with a shot from the edge that only hit the outer net of the goal defended by Donnarumma: Norway now full court press and it became dangerous several times, first with another shot from Sorloth that grazed the top corner, then with a foul ball that crossed the penalty area and went past the post to the left of the blue keeper. The Azzurri were forced to do it slowed his pace to avoid the madness of the Scandinavians, sometimes using less urban methods like the ones Bastoni used to slow down Haaland. One of the most enthusiastic guests was Sorloth, who broke down the left and somehow provided a fine assist for Ryerson’s diagonal shot, which ended up going wide. The Azzurri’s response continued to come from the left, with another corner won by Dimarco and a free kick awarded to Pio Esposito: the ball then found Bastoni at the far post but the Inter defender was unable to find his teammate free in the middle of the box. The Azzurri are very dangerous when Pio Esposito launched Politano first, who provided a good pass on Retegui’s run: Ajer understood everything and anticipated the Italian-Argentinian. After a first half played to just one goal, there were now two teams on the field and Italy reached when, after some good play, Nusa came into view. deflected Politano’s shot and tricked Donnarumma: a fine goal that rewarded Norway’s excellent start to recovery.
Italy suffered a psychological impact and was called up by Gattuso, but he was there so much nervousness on the pitch: first Bastoni got a yellow card for protesting, then Pio Esposito who argued with Haaland, also on the list of bad guys according to Mr Hernandez. After Cristante’s entry, Italy and Norway were no longer hiding they attack directly: in welcoming the corner kick, Nusa fired a sure shot from the far post, but managed to catch Donnarumma’s punch. Instead, Dimarco first fired Politano’s cross towards goal, with Nyland denying him the goal, then Pio Esposito managed to head it, but sent the ball over the crossbar. But in the end, Erving Haaland wakes up and destroyed Italy within minutes: if the first goal was a volley that turned a great assist from Bobb into a goal, then the Man City striker received the ball from Genoan Thorsby and guided teammate Donnarumma with a perfect volley. Italy tried to react after that bad 1-2 with Politano but his shot ends up over the crossbar: new substitute Scamacca also tries but Ajer deflects it for a corner. There is also room for final fashion show for Haaland, welcomed by many fans who followed the Norwegian in Milan and the final where the Scandinavian team won 4-1 with new signing Strand Larsen. Italy leaves the field amidst the Meazza whistles for a final that further diminished the Azzurri’s ambitions.
Scoreboard
ITALY (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, G. Mancini, Bastoni (86′ Buongiorno); Politano, Locatelli (79′ Zaccagni), Barella (86′ Ricci), Frattesi (68′ Cristante), Dimarco; Retegui, Pio Esposito (79′ Deception). Coach: Gennaro Gattuso
NORWAY (4-4-2): Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe (88′ Strand Larsen); Thorstvedt (76′ Aasgaard), Berg (65′ Thorsby), Berge, Nusa; Sorloth (76′ Bobb), Haaland (88′ Ostigaard). Coach: Solbakken is stale
Marker: 10′ Pio Esposito (I), 63′ Nusa (North), 78′, 80′ Haaland (North), 90+3′ Strand Larsen (North)
Be warned: 45+1′ Barella (I), 63′ Locatelli (I), 67′ Bastoni (I), 69′ Pio Esposito (I), 69′ Haaland (N)
Expelled:-
Referee: Alejandro Hernandez (Spain)
