Mateo Retegui stepped up with two objectives, plus Gianluca Mancini’s header, as Italy beat Israel 3-0 in an odd ambiance to lock down that World Cup play-off place, nevertheless it was removed from a convincing efficiency.
The Azzurri in a chaotic match, and this turned behind runaway leaders Norway. Alessandro Bastoni was suspended and Moise Kean injured , so Gianluca Mancini and Manuel Locatelli stepped in, transferring Giacomo Raspadori to a centre-forward function in a swap to 3-5-2. Israel missed Idan Nachmias following a 5-0 loss in Norway.
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UDINE – OCTOBER 14: Gamers of Italy pose for a group {photograph} previous to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Israel at Stadio Friuli on October 14, 2025 in Udine (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
Andrea Cambiaso and Raspadori scuffed their finishes after some fast passes, however Oscar Gloukh additionally drilled inches previous the publish after Anan Khalaili bought away from Riccardo Calafiori down the proper.
Gianluigi Donnarumma wanted a unbelievable fingertip save to push the Manor Solomon strike over the bar on a fast counter began after what appeared a transparent foul on Raspadori.
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Retegui bought in entrance of Matan Baltaxa and was caught behind the ankle for a penalty, so days after lacking in opposition to Estonia, he insisted on stepping up once more. Whereas his end in Tallinn was weak after a stuttering run-up, right here Retegui smashed the end into the roof of the web.
UDINE – OCTOBER 14: Mateo Retegui of Italy scores his group’s first aim from the penalty spot throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Israel at Stadio Friuli on October 14, 2025 in Udine. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
Inter striker Francesco Pio Esposito, contemporary from his first senior aim for Italy, changed Raspadori for the second half. He helped lay off the ball for Nicolò Barella’s volley simply over the bar, however Tai Baribo wasted a promising counter-attack by firing excessive and huge too.
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Donnarumma was known as into his second massive save, getting down low to parry the Gloukh daisy-cutter with one glove after a poor Giovanni Di Lorenzo cross sparked the counter-attack.
Cambiaso had the ball within the web on 66 minutes, however was visibly offside on the Pio Esposito help.
UDINE – OCTOBER 14: Andrea Cambiaso of Italy is challenged by Dan Biton of Israel throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Israel at Stadio Friuli on October 14, 2025 in Udine. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
Retegui doubled Italy’s lead and his personal private tally with a solo aim, as he robbed substitute Stav Toriel within the closing third and instantly bent a unbelievable right-foot roller into the far prime nook from the sting of the realm, giving the goalkeeper no probability. It was his fifth aim within the final 4 video games for the Nazionale.
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Solomon may solely hit the side-netting from a decent angle after Donnarumma and Calafiori collided. There was an identical state of affairs on the different finish when Retegui intercepted a Glazer cross and tried to roll throughout for Esposito, however the goalkeeper and a teammate made the determined block.
UDINE, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy appears on throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Israel at Stadio Friuli on October 14, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
There was a goal-line clearance to disclaim Calafiori’s header on a Tonali nook, adopted by an acrobatic Mancini effort. Moments later, Mancini did get the third aim with a header on one other nook kick, his first senior strike for the Nazionale.
Roberto Piccoli and Nicolò Cambiaghi additionally bought to make their senior debuts.
Italy 3-0 Israel
Retegui pen 45+1 (It), 74 (It), Mancini 93 (It)