Shock sweeps Italy following disappointing World Cup qualifier performance in football
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Italy's soccer team faces a storm of criticism following a dismal 3-0 defeat against Norway. Coach Luciano Spalletti and the entire squad find themselves under fire.
The Italian squad has been slammed for their disappointing performance in the World Cup qualifiers, earning the title of "a disgraceful display" from "Gazzetta dello Sport". The prospect of missing the World Cup for the third consecutive time is looking increasingly likely.
Italian fans in attendance at the match in Oslo were equally disappointed. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, a star player for Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain, admitted, "I can't explain what happened. Our fans don't deserve such games." He continued, "We are Italy, and it's unacceptable to play like this. We must apologize."
Alexander Sorloth, a former Leipzig player, found the back of the net against Donnarumma in the 14th minute. Antonio Nusa, a current Leipzig player, beat Donnarumma again with a powerful shot in the 34th minute. Erling Haaland, Norway's star striker, scored the final goal just before halftime.
"Progress Still Needs Work"
Fans across Italy are demanding the resignation of national coach Luciano Spalletti. "Tuttosport" stated that Spalletti had been "humiliated" in Norway, given the late start in the World Cup qualifiers. "Gazzetta dello Sport" proposed that not only Spalletti but also federation president Gabriele Gravina should step down following the Euro 2021 round of 16 exit.
Spalletti, however, refused to resign, maintaining, "I will always lead this group. There's still a lot to improve, but I will continue with these guys and this project, which is not in question." Italy is set to face Moldova in their next match on Monday (20:45 CET, DAZN), under immense pressure to perform.
Meanwhile, Germany's hopes of being among the top teams in the 2026 World Cup group draw have received a boost. The German national team could narrow the gap to Italy by winning the Nations League third-place match against France on Sunday. Only the top nine teams in the FIFA World Ranking will be placed in the top pot for the next year's draw, so a high ranking is crucial to avoid facing tough opponents such as Argentina, Spain, or France in the group stage.
ources: ntv.de, tno/dpa/sid
- Italy
- Football
- World Cup Qualifiers
In-Depth Insights:
- Despite losing their opening qualifier to Norway 3-0, the specific group standings for Italy’s UEFA qualifying group or exact points and rankings were not provided in the search results, making a detailed analysis of their current standing challenging.
- The trend of instability within the team, coupled with the late start in the World Cup qualifiers, makes Italy's path to the World Cup uncertain.
- While Italy has a history of strong soccer performance, starting a qualification campaign with a heavy defeat and managerial upheaval poses a significant hurdle for the team.
- The immediate prognosis is cautious, with Italy needing to regroup quickly to maintain their qualification hopes.
- To aid in their recovery from the dismal World Cup qualifier performance, the Italian community is advocating for a revised community policy that incorporates vocational training programs focused on sports, particularly football, with the aim of enhancing the team's skills and overall performance.
- Amidst the pressure to perform in the upcoming match against Moldova, key Italian players have been advised to benefit from vocational training, allowing them to hone their football skills and help elevate the team's standing in the World Cup Qualifiers.
