Italy easily defeated Estonia in the fifth matchday of Group I of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers . The Azzurri prevailed in Tallinn with a score of …

With this victory, the national team consolidates its second-place finish, which qualifies for the playoffs. A push for first place, which would guarantee direct qualification, is almost impossible, as Norway currently holds the top spot, having swept Israel 5-0 today and now has a perfect record with 18 points from six games. Italy follows with 12 points from five games, followed by Israel with nine points from six games . On Tuesday, they face Israel to secure second place.

Unfortunately, the 3-0 defeat in Norway on Matchday 1 weighs heavily on the top spot. The Scandinavians' monstrous goal difference makes a comeback nearly impossible even with a win in the head-to-head match. An unlikely Norwegian misstep at home to Estonia would also be needed.

Gattuso chooses a super-attacking formation, a 4-4-2 that's almost a 4-2-4 with Orsolini and Raspadori as midfielders . This is the starting eleven: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco; Orsolini, Barella, Tonali, Raspadori; Kean, Retegui.

The Azzurri took the lead after just over four minutes when Kean , fed by Dimarco in the area, cut back onto his right foot and placed the ball into the corner for his eleventh goal for the Azzurri, and sixth in his last four games.

The Fiorentina striker was forced off a few minutes later due to injury to make way for Pio Esposito. The Azzurri continued to dominate the game, and in the 29th minute Retegui missed a penalty, but made up for it shortly after, in the 38th minute, when he received the ball from Orsolini and made no mistake, making it 2-0 .

In the second half, Italy came close to scoring through Raspadori, Orsolini, and Spinazzola, and in the 74th minute, they made it three. Pio Esposito scored, a splendid right-back on the rebound from Spinazzola's assist: his first goal for the national team . Two minutes later, Donnarumma made a shocking blunder, missing a simple catch and giving Sappinen the 3-1 lead.

(Unioneonline/L)

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