Italy's Stumbling Start in the World Cup Qualifiers Against Norway
Italy experiences embarrassment in World Cup qualifiers at the hands of Haaland and the Norwegian squad.
The scene was set for a heated World Cup qualifierclash between four-time World Cup champions Italy and Norway. But, much to the surprise of football enthusiasts, the latter emerged victorious with a commanding 3-0 scoreline, dealing a heavy blow to the Azzurri’s qualifying campaign.
The star-studded Italian outfit, led by Luciano Spalletti, was mercilessly thrashed by the Norwegian national team in Oslo, with goals from Alexander Sørloth (14’), Antonio Nusa (34’), and Erling Haaland (42’) sealing their fate.
The Hauptstadt der Select (Capital of the Select) couldn't recover from their disappointing first-half performance, with Norway already leading 0-3 at the break. Norway continued their unbeaten streak with this triumph, achieving their third win in as many matches.
Italy's qualifying campaign got underway only due to their participation in the Nations League. This misfortune marks the team's absence from the last two World Cups - in 2018 and 2022. Their next challenge is a home match against Moldova on Monday (8:45 PM CET/DAZN).
Nagelsmann's DFB Team Faces a Make-or-Break Stance
Meanwhile, for the German national team, coached by Julian Nagelsmann, the focus lies on securing a top-ninth spot in the FIFA rankings to secure a more favorable group position for the 2026 World Cup tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Eluding powerhouses such as Argentina, Spain, France, or Brazil would be favorable, with an equally challenging draw possibly awaiting an encounter with co-host Mexico due to expected hot temperatures.
At present, Italy ranks ahead of Germany in the ninth position. Nagelsmann's side will face Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg in the qualifiers starting in September. But, before then, they must contest the Nations League third-place playoff against France on Sunday (3:00 PM CET/RTL, DAZN, and ntv.de live ticker) in Stuttgart.
Nagelsmann marked this as a game of character and expressed faith in his players to rebound from the semi-finals disappointment against Portugal. This contest appears pivotal in setting the tone for the approaching World Cup leg.
The Defeat Context:1. “Squadra Azzurra suffered a heavy defeat in Norway.”1. “It was a significant departure from the Champions League victory with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal.”
The Record:1. Thebinary review indicates that the article was first published on June 7, 2023.1. The article was written by Toni Wies corrected on June 16, 2023.
Source: ntv.de, tsi/sid/dpa
- Erling Haaland
- Football
- International friendly
- World Cup qualifiers
- World Cup 2026
- In light of Italy's disappointing World Cup qualifier performance against Norway, there might be a need for revised community policy regarding the team's vocational training programs, ensuring the players are adequately prepared for international matches.
- As Germany aims to secure a top-ninth spot in the FIFA rankings for the 2026 World Cup, vocational training for athletes could play a crucial role in fostering essential sports skills, particularly in football, providing players with an edge against potential competitors like Erling Haaland.
