JAKARTA - Italy could only postpone Norway's move to the 2026 World Cup finals after only being able to win 2-0 over Moldova in the Group I qualifying match at the Zimbru Stadium, Chisinau, Friday, November 14, 2025 in the morning WIB.
Norway has almost certainly qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998 after winning 4-1 over Estonia. The result made Norway a perfect point during seven qualifying matches. Now, Norway, which is getting stronger at the top of the Group I standings, has pocketed 21.
Erling Haaland et al are also certain to advance to the 2026 World Cup. The last match against Italy was actually just a formality because of the huge goal difference.
If Italy beat Norway in the match Monday, November 17, 2025 in the morning, they must be able to score very many goals. The reason is, Norway is ahead of its +29 goal productivity. Meanwhile, Italy is only +12 so they have to win with a score of 17 goals.
This is what makes Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso rotate against Moldova. With a different scheme to 4-4-2, Italy actually dominates the game. They excel possession and create many chances.
It's just that all the opportunities achieved cannot be converted into goals throughout the match. When the match had entered its final minutes, Italy finally broke the deadlock. Defender Gianluca Mancini managed to break into Moldova's goal with a header in the 88th minute.
Furthermore, striker Francesco Pio Esposito completed Gli Azzurri's victory in injury time. Italy also won 2-0. It's just that the victory still made Italy ridiculed by supporters themselves. The reason is, the two goals victory made Italy have to go through the playoffs to get tickets to the 2026 World Cup.
Gattuso was inflamed by the ridicule of supporters. "What do you mean that this is not Italy's best performance? I see we are completely dominating and even Moldova has not even fired a shot into the net throughout the match," Gattuso was quoted as saying by Football Italia.
If you hope to win 11-1 like when Norway beat Moldova, that's none of my business. What is clear is that we are facing a match that is not easy, "said Gattuso, who admitted that he was disappointed with the ridicule of his own supporters.
I am disappointed to hear what the fans say. They shouted loudly at us to work hard. This was done when we played well and according to their wishes. Going into an away game and listening to 500 fans who ridiculed and cursed the players was clearly unacceptable," he said again.
Italian fans do hope to win big to catch a goal deficit with Norway. But with that two-goal win, Italy will find it difficult to win the group despite beating Norway.
"It's not an easy game. We actually also know that Norway won. The atmosphere of the game is getting a little strange," said midfielder Sandro Tonali.
If we beat Norway, it would mean a lot to us. Not to cure the injured but to encourage us to try [loss to the World Cup finals]," he said.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
