Italy are going into the 2026 World Cup play-offs, as regardless of main by means of Francesco Pio Esposito, Norway totally earned high spot with a comeback 4-1 win at San Siro.
The Azzurri knew that though a victory would put them degree on factors with Norway, solely a 9-0 end result might overturn the huge hole in objective distinction. With that in thoughts, Sandro Tonali and Andrea Cambiaso had been rested to keep away from suspension within the play-off semi-finals, whereas Moise Kean, Riccardo Calafiori, Niccolò Cambiaghi, Leonardo Spinazzola, Giorgio Scalvini and extra had been injured, however Nicolò Barella . Norway had a 100 per cent file, together with that noticed Luciano Spalletti fired in June.
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MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Gamers of Italy pose for a staff {photograph} previous to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Picture by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photos)
Federico Dimarco’s half-volley flashed extensive as Esposito flicked on the Giovanni Di Lorenzo cross, however Italy took the lead quickly after.
Dimarco pounced on a Julian Ryerson defensive error and rolled throughout for Esposito, who gathered along with his again to objective, turned and fired in from seven yards. It was the Inter centre-forward’s third objective in 5 senior caps.
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Esposito threatened a second on the evening, his glancing header flashing extensive from the Dimarco cross, and David Moller Wolf made a dangerous deal with on the ball by means of the again of the younger striker.
Manuel Locatelli’s weak end failed to hassle the goalkeeper, however Alexander Sorloth threatened by blasting simply over from the sting of the field on the daybreak of the second half and Sassuolo midfielder Kristian Thorstvedt’s cross skimmed the far put up.
Norway had been pushing within the second half and equalised when Antonio Nusa smashed a ferocious left-foot end into the close to high nook from simply contained in the field, with the help of a deflection off Politano.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Antonio Nusa of Norway celebrates scoring his staff’s first objective through the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Picture by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photos)
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Gianluigi Donnarumma made a difficult save on Nusa’s volley on the again put up on a nook, whereas Nyland did the identical on the different finish on the Esposito volley from Politano’s cross. Esposito threatened once more moments later, his header flashing simply extensive.
As an alternative, Norway proved how medical they’ve been all through this World Cup qualifying marketing campaign with two objectives within the area of a minute.
First Haaland was left an excessive amount of area for a sensational volley on the far put up on Oscar Bobb’s cross, then Alessandro Bastoni gave it away to Genoa midfielder Morten Thorsby, who surged ahead and rolled throughout for the Haaland tap-in.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Referee, Alejandro Hernandez, reveals a yellow card to Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Italy, through the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Picture by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photos)
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Politano’s roller skimmed the far upright, and Gianluca Scamacca’s effort on the flip was charged down by Bologna defender Torbjorn Heggem.
With the final kick of the sport, substitute Jorgen Strand Larsen took on Mancini and minimize inside to bend a end into the far backside nook.
Norway received each single sport in Group I with 37 objectives scored and 5 conceded.
Italy 1-4 Norway
Esposito 11 (I), Nusa 63 (N), Haaland 78, 79 (N), Strand Larsen 93 (N)