Sandro Tonali back on track | OneFootball

Sandro Tonali was back in action on Monday night.

Italy hoping to get back on track after a 3-0 drubbing by Norway and manager Luciano Spalletti announcing on Sunday that he had been sacked.

Sandro Tonali and his international teammates returned to winning ways against bottom of the table Moldova but it was less than convincing.

A crowd of 18,771 watched at the Mapei Stadium (official capacity of around 20,000, home to Sassuolo and Reggiana) in the northern city of Reggio Emilia.

A very open game with 46 shots in total, 28 for Italy and 18 for Moldova, seven on target for each team, 7 v 6 on corners in favour of Italy.

However, in Spalletti’s final send off match, Italy converted two of their seven efforts on target whilst riding their luck at times at the back. Raspadori opened the scoring five minutes before half-time and Cambiaso completed the scoring five minutes after the break.

Sandro Tonali played the full match and was one of Italy’s best performers, in the Football Italia player ratings, only goalscorer Raspadori was rated higher than Tonali.

Football Italia summing up the United star’s performance; ‘The Newcastle star covered two different roles as he became the Italy playmaker in the second half when Barella replaced Ricci.’

In this five team group only the top side will get an automatic place at the 2026 World Cup finals. Already it looks seriously tough for Italy, as they are now on three points after two games whilst Norway have 12 points from their four matches so far, a Haaland second half goal was enough to give them a 1-0 win away against Estonia last night. It already looks like Italy’s hopes rest on ensuring they finish second in the group ahead of Israel and then get through to the 2026 finals via the play-offs that the second in the groups will go into.

Thursday 5 June

Ecuador 0 Brazil 0

Bruno Guimaraes was one of Brazil’s better players in this dour World Cup group qualifier, Ancelotti’s first game in charge. In the Goal ratings only Marquinhos (8/10) getting a higher rating than Bruno Guimaraes (7/10). A match of minimal chances at either end and when Vinicius Junior set up the best opportunity of the game for Casemiro, it was a feeble effort from the Man U player. A win would have seen Brazil pretty much sure of qualifying but a point means a little more work to do to make sure.

Friday 6 June

Norway 3 Italy 0

Sandro Tonali and his teammates had a night to forget in this World Cup group qualifier. Three goals down by the break, the home side cruised to this big victory. Only the group winners automatically qualify and Italy already under pressure, as Norway have nine points from the first three of the eight group games they each have to play.

Saturday 7 June

Andorra 0 England 1

A woeful match as England struggled to a 1-0 win in this World Cup group qualifier against woeful opposition, Harty Kane scoring from a few yards out. Dan Burn played the whole game and had minimal defending to do, Andorra with no shots on target and not a single corner, the Newcastle defender with the most passes of any player on the pitch and when giving it to midfielders and attacking players, very rarely they were willing to take any attacking responsibility and just gave the ball back to Burn, sideways and backwards. Anthony Gordon came on in the 81st minute and looked sharp, willing to run at the opposition.

Greece 4 Slovakia 1

A tale of two Newcastle United goalkeepers and neither of them happy after this match. Martin Dubravka playing the full match and conceding four goals despite the Greek players only having three efforts on target, all three of those ending in goals plus an own goal in added time. Whilst Odysseas Vlachodimos watched this friendly from the bench. He had been the established number one for Greece when arriving at Newcastle United last summer but has paid the price for not playing any first team football at club level, no longer number one for his national side.

Monday 9 June

Italy 2 Moldova 0

A much needed victory for Sandro Tonali and his international teammates in this World Cup group qualifier. A goal either side of half-time proving enough in a very open match. The Newcastle midfielder played the full match and was one of Italy’s best performers, Raspadori pipping him for the man of the match accolade.

Tuesday 10 June

England v Senegal (Anthony Gordon, Dan Burn) Friendly

Greece v Bulgaria (Odysseas Vlachodimos) Friendly

Slovakia v Israel (Martin Dubravka) Friendly

Wednesday 11 June