Norway turned things around and sent Italy to the playoffs

World Cup Qualification

Disaster instead of miracle: Norway sends Italy to the playoffs

It was clear before the match: Italy would only qualify for the tournament directly by a miracle. Norway did not take part.

Star striker Erling Haaland and Norway have humiliated Italy – and thereby eliminated the “Squadra Azzurra”‘s last chance of qualifying directly for the 2026 World Cup. With two goals, Haaland secured Norway’s fifth World Cup participation in a 4-1 (0-1) win in Milan and sent Italy into the playoffs.

Gennaro Gattuso’s team must now fight to win tickets to tournaments in Canada, Mexico and the United States next March in order to advance to the finals for the first time since 2014.

Even before kick-off, Norway’s first participation in the World Cup finals in 28 years was almost impossible. Norway entered the San Siro in Milan with a lead of three points and 17 goals. A football miracle is necessary for Italy, but “winning 9-0 is impossible,” Gattuso predicted earlier.

Italy started energetically and dominantly. An early lead by Pio Esposito (11th) and Norway’s initially passive performance created a euphoric atmosphere. However, after the break, Norway were much better and were able to equalize through strong Leipzig professional Antonio Nusa (63′).

Haaland finally turned things around with his 15th and 16th goals in qualifying (78/79). Jørgen Strand Larsen scored in stoppage time to make it 4-1 and make it an eighth win in an eighth game. By the way: Haaland equaled Robert Lewandowski’s goal record (2016/17) with 16 goals from ten matches in World Cup qualifying.

Italy is now threatened with a terrible hat trick: the four-time world champions have missed the last two World Cup finals in Qatar in 2022 and Russia in 2018. Back then, Italy had to qualify for the playoffs – and failed miserably in every game. The draw will take place on Thursday in Zurich.