Italy must return to the play-offs in the battle for a World Cup ticket. The Squadra Azzurra suffered a 1:4 defeat in their final group game against leaders Norway.
It would have been a hell of a result if Italy had won Group I ahead of Norway on the final matchday. After all, the Scandinavians went into the final direct duel in Milan's San Siro with a cushion of three points and a goal difference that was 17 goals better. Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso had already put the brakes on the euphoria beforehand by admitting to the media that his team would not win 9-0.
The former AC Milan midfielder and short-lived FC Sion coach was more of a realist than a prophet, as the Squadra Azzurra did take the lead against the Norwegians after eleven minutes through Francesco Esposito. However, this goal by no means triggered a storming run. Because the team around star striker Erling Haaland defended in a disciplined manner, knowing that the clock would be a Norwegian one that evening.
And Stale Solbakken's team were also on a mission in northern Italy to go through this World Cup campaign unbeaten. An endeavor that was to succeed. Antonio Nusa finally equalized after just over an hour, and Haaland showed his class in impressive fashion between the 78th and 80th minutes with a double strike to make it 1:3. Jorgen Strand Larsen put the finishing touches on the game with the fourth goal in stoppage time. And the Italian tifosi sent them off into the dressing room with whistles.
For the Norwegians, this is their fourth World Cup appearance in history and their first since 1998 in France. The Italians, on the other hand, will once again have to go through the play-offs, which will be drawn next Thursday. In March, the 2006 world champions will have to try to avoid the embarrassment of missing out on a global finals for the third time in a row.
Italy
Norway
- Francesco Pio Esposito - 1:0 (11.)
- (63.) 1:1 - Antonio Nusa
- (78.) 1:2 - Erling Haaland
- (79.) 1:3 - Erling Haaland
- (90.+3.) 1:4 - Jørgen Strand Larsen
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Liveticker
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Liveticker closed
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90.+4.End of 2nd half
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90.+3.Goal for Norway, 1:4 through Jørgen Strand Larsen (Morten Thorsby)
Jørgen Strand Larsen
Striker
Assist: Morten Thorsby
Midfielder
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90.+3.Yellow card Norway
Jørgen Strand Larsen
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89.Substitution in Norway
Leo Østigård
Defender
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89.Substitution out Norway
David Møller Wolfe
Defender
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89.Substitution in Norway
Jørgen Strand Larsen
Striker
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89.Substitution out Norway
Erling Haaland
Striker
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86.Substitution in Italy
Alessandro Buongiorno
Defender
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86.Substitution out Italy
Nicolò Barella
Midfielder
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86.Substitution in Italy
Samuele Ricci
Midfielder
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86.Substitution out Italy
Alessandro Bastoni
Defender
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79.Substitution in Italy
Mattia Zaccagni
Striker
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79.Substitution out Italy
Francesco Pio Esposito
Striker
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79.Substitution in Italy
Gianluca Scamacca
Striker
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79.Substitution out Italy
Manuel Locatelli
Midfielder
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79.Goal for Norway, 1:3 through Erling Haaland (Morten Thorsby)
Erling Haaland
Striker
Assist: Morten Thorsby
Midfielder
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78.Goal for Norway, 1:2 through Erling Haaland (Oscar Bobb)
Erling Haaland
Striker
Assist: Oscar Bobb
Midfielder
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75.Substitution in Norway
Oscar Bobb
Midfielder
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75.Substitution out Norway
Alexander Sørloth
Striker
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75.Substitution in Norway
Thelo Aasgaard
Midfielder
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75.Substitution out Norway
Kristian Thorstvedt
Midfielder
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69.Yellow card Italy
Francesco Pio Esposito
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69.Yellow card Norway
Erling Haaland
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68.Substitution in Italy
Bryan Cristante
Midfielder
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68.Substitution out Italy
Davide Frattesi
Midfielder
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67.Yellow card Italy
Alessandro Bastoni
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64.Substitution in Norway
Morten Thorsby
Midfielder
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64.Substitution out Norway
Patrick Berg
Midfielder
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63.Goal for Norway, 1:1 through Antonio Nusa (Alexander Sørloth)
Antonio Nusa
Midfielder
Assist: Alexander Sørloth
Striker
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46.Kick-off 2nd half
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45.+3.End of 1st half
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45.+2.Yellow card Italy
Nicolò Barella
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11.Goal for Italy, 1:0 through Francesco Pio Esposito (Federico Dimarco)
Francesco Pio Esposito
Striker
Assist: Federico Dimarco
Defender
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1.Start of the match
