The Italian national team lived up to their role as favorites in Estonia. The Squadra Azzurra prevailed confidently.
Italy did its duty and left the field as deserved winners in the World Cup qualifiers in Tallinn, Estonia, with a 3-1 (2-0) win. Coach Gennaro Gattuso’s team is six points behind leaders Norway in second place in Group M and has five games, one game less than the Scandinavians.
The Italians’ tremors continue; the team recently missed their World Cup participation twice in a row (2018 and 2022). Only the top teams in each group qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup. With three points after six games, the Estonians no longer have a chance of qualifying.
The game had barely started when the Italians already took the lead. Moise Kean received the ball on the left side of the penalty area, moved inside and finished with a well-aimed shot into the far corner to make it 1-0 (4th). The striker had to be replaced after just 15 minutes because he was injured without any external influence.
A scoring chance for Estonia
The Squadra Azzurra The tempo continued to be high and the Estonians repeatedly got into trouble, but despite good opportunities, the guests did not hit Estonia’s goal again.
And the Italians’ inaccuracies came close to being bitterly avenged when Federico Dimarco accidentally shot Estonian Rocco Shein (25′) in the shin just in front of the Italian goal and the ball rolled just past the goal. But it was coach Jürgen Henn’s team’s only chance in the first half.
Striker Retegui misses a penalty
Just three minutes later, coach Gattuso’s team had their second goal on their hands. Mateo Retegui was lightly touched in the penalty area and fell theatrically. To everyone’s astonishment, referee Serdar Gözübüyük awarded a penalty. Retegui started himself and was denied by goalkeeper Karl Hein (28′), who made a brilliant save.
Ten minutes later, the 26-year-old attacker did much better. After a back pass from Riccardo Orsolini, Retegui made it 2-0 (38th) with a direct shot from seven meters.
Flutschfinger Donnarumma
The Italians remained offensive and dominated the game in the second half. Retegui and Giacomo Raspadori missed two good scoring opportunities right from the start. The Estonians became a little more courageous as the game progressed, but for a long time they weren’t a goal threat at all.
And the Italians continued to miss a few more opportunities far too easily. Apparently the final decision was made in the 74th minute. After a nice interplay on the left side, Francesco Esposito took the ball directly from seven meters and made it 3-0.
But just two minutes later, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made the game a little more exciting again when he let a cross that had been thought to be intercepted slip through his fingers. Rauno Sappinen was spot on and effortlessly converted from four meters to make the final score 1:3 (76th) for the Estonians.