Italy still deprived of the World Cup?

For the first time since 1998, Norway will play in the World Cup next year in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Erling Haaland’s selection will have indeed dominated its qualifying group until the end, inflicting a second setback on Italy this Sunday in the entire qualifying campaign.

Severely beaten in Oslo last June (3-0), the Azzurri sank again against the Scandinavians on the San Siro pitch. If Esposito quickly opened the scoring for his team (11^e), the Norwegians gained momentum throughout the debates to finish in style, rewarded for their efforts with a double from the essential Haaland (78^e80^e) and Nusa’s goals (63^e) and Strand Larsen (90^e+3).

As in 2018 and 2022, Italy will therefore have to go through the play-offs to claim a place at the 2026 World Cup. Four years ago, North Macedonia deprived the transalpine selection of the World Cup, like Sweden four years previously. A real curse that Gennaro Gattuso’s team will have to break next March.

Italy-Norway, the lines at kick-off

The Italian eleven: Donnarumma – Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Bastoni – Politano, Barella, Locatelli, Frattesi, Dimarco – Retegui, Esposito.

The Norwegian eleven: Nyland – Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Wolfe – Thorstvedt, Berge, Berg, Nusa – Sorloth, Haaland.