Italy destroyed by Norway: 2026 World Cup already at risk. Spalletti: "Let's move forward with this group. After Moldova I'll talk to Gravina"

"This is a group that I chose and I'm moving forward with it. There is room for improvement, we can't give advantages like the ones we had tonight. We're moving forward with this group and this project, it's the best that we've evaluated". So at the end of Norway-Italy, to the microphones of Rai, the Azzurri coach Luciano Spalletti commented on the 3-0 defeat against Norway in Oslo in the debut in Group I of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. "We conceded that first goal that was avoidable, then in the wide spaces they had a couple of individuals who put us in difficulty, then everything became more difficult. After the 2-0 they retreated, they waited in their half and it was difficult to find spaces. The lack of players for one-on-ones makes the difference" Spalletti said in the post-match.

Norway-Italy 3-0, Spalletti, 'Moldova first and then I'll talk to Gravina about my intentions'

"I will play the next match against Moldova and then I will talk to Gravina because I need him to talk to us about my intentions and the choices I make." This is how the coach of the Italian national team Luciano Spalletti, speaking to Sky Sport after Norway-Italy, spoke about his intentions for the future, after his team's 3-0 defeat in Oslo in their debut in Group I of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

"It takes morale to support the technical qualities of a footballer. After a performance like that you ask yourself several questions and you realize that there are complications, which must be addressed. On an individual level I think something more can be done. In any case I will continue with this group because I think it has qualities", reassures Spalletti, 23 benches with Italy with 11 wins and 6 defeats since September 2023.

2026 World Cup Qualifiers, Italy Destroyed, 3-0 in Norway

A bitter debut for Luciano Spalletti's Italian national team in Group I of the World Cup qualifiers, with a 3-0 defeat at the Ullevaal stadium in Oslo against Norway. The match was decided for Stale Solbakken's team by goals, all in the first half, from Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa and Herling Braut Haaland. The home team scored their third win in as many games in the qualifying group with 12 goals scored and 2 conceded, while Italy had a bitter debut, remaining at 0 points while awaiting the match on Monday 9 June against Moldova, bottom of the table with two defeats in as many games.

Deep night for the Azzurri in the rain of Oslo, with many errors that led to protests from the Italian fans present, and only one shot towards the goal by Orjan Nyland that arrived in the 91st minute. Deep night for Italy in a match in which they controlled the ball without ever hitting it, with Mateo Retegui forced to go back to participate in the team's play during the match. In the second half, Norway controlled possession by repeatedly shooting, with the Azzurri unable to react and the midfield trio of Tonali, Rovella and Barella, with Frattesi replacing the Biancoceleste in the second half, drowning under the Norwegian pressure.

In the first half, Italy took to the field with the aim of keeping possession to flush out the Norwegian defence, with the home team immediately understanding how to hurt, with speed: in the 10th minute, Nusa forced his way into the penalty area, going away with a half-rule to Zappacosta, slipping away from the sidelines to the opponents' penalty area, where his low ball towards his teammates was blocked by the Italian defence. In the 14th minute, a construction error by Bastoni from his own area, the Inter defender instead of serving Zappacosta on the sideline but Nusa again, who recovered the ball in the centre circle and cut towards the three-quarter line, before serving Sorloth with a through ball: the Atletico Madrid striker, one-on-one with Donnarumma, made no mistake with his left foot at the near post. In the 32nd minute, Odegaard advances and serves Sorloth on the right in the three-quarter line: the left-footed player moves to the centre and enters the penalty area, aims at Bastoni and first veers onto his left foot, then shoots at the near post with his preferred foot, Donnarumma parries.

In the 34th minute, a throw from goalkeeper Nyland, a flying control by Thorsby in the three-quarter line passes to 2005 Nusa who takes the ball forward with his back heel, freeing himself from Rovella, then moves in between the Lazio player and Di Lorenzo and at the edge of the area he shoots hard at the former: an unstoppable shot for the Italian goalkeeper and Norway doubles their lead. In the 42nd minute, the third goal arrives with Odegaard who passes to Haaland with a vertical pass, who starts behind the offside line of the Italian defense, who all alone dribbles Donnarumma and puts the ball in the net with his right foot, into an empty net.

Second half in which the pace slows down with Norway controlling the ball and the guests unable to react, never managing to shoot on goal and falling under the blows of Odegaard, the most technical of his team and who manages to combine quality with quantity, running throughout the match and helping the midfield. The Arsenal captain himself in the 66th minute, on a free kick in a tight position near the Azzurri penalty area, passes to Berg who shoots hard first time to the near post from the edge of the area: only the post saves Donnarumma. The match continues with Norway maintaining possession of the ball trying to put the match to sleep and trying to hit the Azzurri, who never manage to find a way to hurt the home defense. In the 88th minute the first shot towards the goal of Italy with the new arrival Orsolini who receives the ball on the right, aims at Pedersen and from the edge of the area tries a conclusion: the ball goes wide by a little. In the 92nd minute, Italy's first shot on goal: Orsolini crosses with his right foot from a tight angle in the penalty area towards the center, Lucca gets ahead of Ajer between the edge of the six-yard box and the penalty spot and heads it, Nyland makes a plastic save. After 2 minutes, the referee blows his whistle three times: under the incessant Norwegian rain, Italy is drowning.