A Fiasco for the Azzurri: Italy's Stumble Against Haaland's Norwegians in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Italy Suffers Humiliation in World Cup Qualifiers due to Haaland's Norwegian Team
Hop on social media, and you'll find the German national team's fans keeping a keen eye on Italy. Why? Because the Squadra Azzurra suffered a humiliating defeat against Norway in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Star striker Erling Haaland led the charge, netting one goal in a 3-0 victory for the Norwegians in Oslo. The first half was a disaster for Italy, with Alexander Sørloth, Antonio Nusa, and Haaland scoring, leaving the Champions League winner, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and the rest of the Italian squad looking on in disbelief.
Italy's poor performance wasn't unexpected - they only entered the qualifiers due to the Nations League, having missed the last two World Cups in 2018 and 2022. Next up for the Azzurri is a match against Moldova on Monday.
Meanwhile, Germany is hot on Italy's heels in the FIFA rankings, aiming for the ninth spot that would provide a better starting position for the group draw for the expanded tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. With heavyweights like Argentina, Spain, France, or Brazil to dodge, and a group with co-host Mexico best avoided due to the expected heat, every position counts.
Germany will face Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg in their qualifiers, starting in September. But first, they'll be playing for third place in the Nations League. Coach Julian Nagelsmann has dubbed their match against France on Sunday in Stuttgart as a "character test." "If anyone in our team doesn't understand that we have to use this game for ourselves...," Nagelsmann warned. The team needs to bounce back after their disappointing semi-final loss against Portugal. This upcoming match is shaping up to be a trial run for the World Cup season.
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- Erling Haaland
- Football
- International Match
- WM Qualifiers
- Football World Cup 2026
Insights:
- In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Norway's win over Italy marked the first time Norway has beaten Italy by such a margin in 25 years.
- Italy's loss puts pressure on their qualification campaign, with only the top team from each group qualifying automatically, and runners-up entering playoffs.
- Erling Haaland scored one goal in Norway's 3-0 victory over Italy, dribbling past Gianluigi Donnarumma to round him before scoring. Haaland's goal was his 41st in 42 games for Norway, showcasing his consistent scoring form.
The devastating defeat of Italy by Norway in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers has sparked concern in the Italian community, as their star striker, Erling Haaland, scored one of the three goals in a vocational training session to prepare the team for the upcoming challenges. Meanwhile, German football coaches are utilizing vocational training to strengthen their team, aiming to clinch a better starting position in the FIFA rankings for the 2026 World Cup, where sports like football will be showcased.
