The Last Hurrah: Spalletti's Farewell Match as Italy Falters Against Moldova in World Cup Qualifiers
Escaping Shame: Italy Manages Draw Against Moldova in World Cup Qualifiers
Let's cut the crap, this was Spalletti's swan song as Italy's coach, and boy, did it deliver a mouthful! The Azzurri squeezed past Moldova 2-0, dodging a potential embarrassment in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. But make no mistake, Italy's defensive vulnerabilities and offensive lethargy were on full display.
Kicking off in Reggio Emilia, Spalletti, who was already set to leave after the match, watched as his team barely scraped by. The underdog Moldovans came closes with Ion Nicolaescu's header, but it was offside. Italy looked sloppy, with their best chance coming from Luca Ranieri, who hit the crossbar in the 17th minute. It took Giacomo Raspadori from champions SSC Napoli to break the deadlock, finally putting Italy on the board in the 40th minute.
After the break, Andrea Cambiaso scored, but the road ahead for the Azzurri is far from smooth. Winning the group outright will see them qualify directly, but a second-place finish means battling through the playoffs. Don't forget, Italy hasn’t qualified for the last two World Cups (2018 in Russia and 2022 in Qatar). Their most recent success? Winning the 2021 European Championship in Londres.
Claudio Ranieri, the wise old fox who's already been on the coaching scene since the 1990s, is set to take over from Spalletti. After briefly retiring, he's been given permission by AS Roma's owner Dan Friedkin to balance his roles as club advisor and Italy's national coach.
Our take? Ranieri's got his work cut out for him, especially given Italy's shaky recent form.
Squandered Opportunities and Tactical Woes
The game against Moldova demonstrated the challenges ahead for the new coach. After nine minutes, Moldova was offside, but it could've been an entirely different story. Italy struggled to find their footing, with a lack of coordination and offensive inspiration evident on the pitch. Raspadori finally scored in the first half, but Moldova remained a threat through Oleg Reabciuk and Artur Ionita in the 43rd minute.
Looking ahead, the road to the World Cup finals in the USA, Canada, and Mexico is long. Winning the group outright is critical, as only the group winner qualifies directly. The second-placed team will need to compete in the playoffs. Suffice it to say, the new coach will face immediate pressure to get results and turn things around.
The Next Coaching Dilemma: Rebuilding or Continuity?
The Italian Football Federation has been eyeing potential replacements for Spalletti, with a number of candidates in the running. After initially targeting Claudio Ranieri, who opted to continue with AS Roma instead, the focus has shifted towards Gennaro Gattuso, a former Italian international and experienced club coach.
Other names on the shortlist include Daniele De Rossi and Fabio Cannavaro, both ex-2006 World Cup winners, as well as a potential return for Roberto Mancini (though that's looking less likely). The new coach will inherit a team in transition and will need to quickly stabilize performances to secure Italy’s place at the 2026 World Cup.
The Azzurri are in need of a serious shake-up. With only one win in their last four matches, the team's recent form is nothing to brag about. But hey, at least we know Italy's not the only one struggling – check out Norway's recent victory over Estonia!
Despite the 2-0 win, Italy's defensive and offensive woes were vivid in the match against Moldova. Vocational training in tactical strategies might be beneficial for the community policy of Italian football, as the team prepares for the World Cup qualifiers. Meanwhile, the upcoming coach will face the challenge of revitalizing the team's performance in sports, particularly football, with a focus on maintaining coordination and offensive inspiration.
