🇮🇹 Missed last two World Cups, start qualifiers in trouble | OneFootball

The fact that they competed in the Nations League quarterfinals in March meant that Italy only made their debut in the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup this Friday (6).

And they are already in a complicated situation to seek direct qualification for the World Cup next year.

They visited Norway in Oslo and were defeated 3 x 0 in the third round of Group I.

Which brought the selection of Haaland, Nusa, Ødegaard, and Sørloth to nine points and a positive goal difference of ten. They remain 100% and soaring.

In the same group, Israel reached six points by beating Estonia as a visitor by 3 x 1.

Leaving the rival with three points.

Only the leading team from each of the 12 groups will go directly to the World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

The 12 that finish in second place in their respective groups will be joined by the four best from the Nations that did not qualify in 1st or 2nd in the Qualifiers for a playoff that will guarantee four more qualifiers.

Italy will return to action on Monday (9), when they will host also scoreless Moldova in a real decision.

Norway visits Estonia. And Israel has a bye.

How was the walk?

Sortloth opened the scoring at 14' after a great play by Nusa.

The second was from the young Leipzig striker, who left Rovella and Di Lorenzo on the ground before beating Donnarumma (34').

And it was up to Haaland - until then little participative - to dribble the PSG giant to score at 42'.

Goals that reinforced Spalletti's problem to form his defense after several absences in the sector.

The final stage came, changes made by Spalletti and no sign of a "new" Italy.

They only had a real chance of scoring at 92', when the big man Lucca was good in the air.

Norway even hit Gigio Donnarumma's post.

Hasn't been to a World Cup knockout stage since 2006...

Italy's mission is to end its drought without competing in the World Cup.

They missed the 2018 (Russia) and 2022 (Qatar) editions by failing against Sweden and North Macedonia (photo below) in their respective playoffs.

📸 Tullio M. Puglia - 2022 Getty Images

They made appearances in 2010 (South Africa) and 2014 (Brazil), but fell in the group stage in both.

The Azzurra was a victim along with England in Group D of the World Cup held on Brazilian soil that had Costa Rica (as leader) and Uruguay qualifying.

In other words: they haven't competed in a World Cup knockout stage since 2006, in Germany, when they beat France and won their fourth title.

Other games of the day 👇🏽

Croatia and Belgium also made their debut this Friday.

Playing in Algarve, the Croatians defeated Gibraltar by 7 x 0 in Group L thanks to goals from Pasalic, Budimir, Perisic, Franjo Ivanovic, and Kramaric (twice each).

The leadership of Group L is from the Czech Republic, which beat Montenegro by 2 x 0 (Hlozek and Schick) and went to nine points - against six from Montenegro.

The Belgians went to Skopje to face North Macedonia.

They took the lead with De Cuyper, the hosts sought the 1 x 1 with Alioski (87').

The leader of Group J is Wales, who went to seven points after overcoming Liechtenstein by 3 x 0. Goals from Joe Rodon, Harry Wilson, and Moore.

And they will host the already pressured Belgium in the next round.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 LISE ASERUD