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Led by their star, Erling Haaland, Norway came from behind to beat Italy 4-1, repeating their victory from 6 June in Oslo and celebrating World Cup qualification with the 5000 Norwegian fans in Milan. On the back of six consecutive wins, the Azzurri dominated the first half and took the lead through Pio Esposito. However, Gennaro Gattuso’s men were undone in the second half by Nusa and Haaland, both of whom also scored five months ago in the match that put Italy on the back foot from the start. To reach next summer’s tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada, we’ll have to go through the play-offs – but that was already known.
Reflecting on his first defeat as Italy Head Coach, Gennaro Gattuso apologised to the fans, 70,000 of whom were at the Meazza (a record attendance for an Italy match) to support the Azzurri: “It’s a heavy defeat. It’s a shame, because we played very well in the first half, but we struggled after the restart. That’s the biggest disappointment. The game began to go badly after their first shot; perhaps we got scared, and that mustn’t happen. We must apologise to our fans and also congratulate our opponents.”
PIO OPENS THE SCORING. Gattuso changed ten of the eleven players who started in Chisinau and, as anticipated, switched to a 3-5-2 formation, with a new attacking partnership of Retegui and Esposito. In front of the returning Donnarumma in goal, with Calafiori ruled out, Mancini featured in the back three alongside Bastoni and Di Lorenzo. Dimarco and Politano reclaimed starting spots on the flanks, having made an impact as substitutes in Moldova with an assist each, while Barella returned to the midfield after serving his suspension, partnering Locatelli and Frattesi.
Italy started well, and their first real incursion into the box saw Dimarco send a half-volley inches wide. As Cristante had done in Chisinau, Locatelli was dropping deep to set Italy’s play in motion. From one of his switches of play came the Azzurri’s eleventh-minute opener: after a quick give and go between Dimarco and Retegui, the Inter man picked out club teammate Pio Esposito, who turned and tucked the ball through Nyland’s legs. It was Pio’s third goal in five games, his second in consecutive matches, and his first at San Siro: he’s yet to score there in an Inter shirt.
Despite going behind, Norway continued to sit deep in their own half. Solbakken’s side were keen not to allow space on the break, moving the ball calmly and seemingly content with not falling further behind. Esposito had a chance to make it 2-0 in the 36th minute, but he failed to hit the target with a header from a Dimarco cross. The Azzurri orchestra was hitting all the right notes, but the music was about to change.
NUSA AGAIN. After a first half spent largely on the defensive, Norway suddenly came out of their shell. With Haaland tightly marked by Mancini, it was Sorloth who threatened twice, first shooting wide from a good position and then sending a left-footed strike from the edge of the box narrowly over the bar. Donnarumma watched with concern as a cross-shot skimmed the post, while an attempt from Ryerson went wide. An equaliser seemed to be coming, and it arrived through Nusa, who had been largely quiet until then. The Leipzig winger ran at Politano and, following some quick footwork, fired home with his left foot to make it 1-1. Nusa, who had also scored against the Azzurri in Oslo, had another effort shortly afterwards, but Donnarumma was alert to block at the near post.
HAALAND TAKES CENTRE STAGE. Gattuso brought Cristante on for Frattesi, who was at risk of suspension for the play-offs. Italy went back on the attack: Dimarco forced Nyland into a save, and Pio Esposito headed just wide. But in the closing stages, Erling Haaland took centre stage. Making the most of assists from substitutes Bobb and Thorsby, he secured Norway’s eighth win in eight games. Two shots, two goals. That’s what champions do. Strand Larsen sealed the 4-1 win in stoppage time as the Norwegian party well and truly began. 2025 has come to an end for Italy. On Thursday, the draw in Zurich will reveal the path awaiting the Azzurri in the play-offs. At the end of March, there’s a place at the World Cup to secure.
ITALY 1-4 NORWAY
ITALY (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Bastoni (85’ Buongiorno); Politano, Barella (85’ Ricci), Locatelli (79’ Zaccagni), Frattesi (68’ Cristante), Dimarco; Retegui, Esposito (79’ Scamacca). Substitutes: Carnesecchi, Vicario, Gabbia, Bellanova, Cambiaso, Orsolini, Zaccagni, Raspadori, Scamacca. Head Coach: Gattuso.
NORWAY (4-4-2): Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe (88’ Ostigard); Thorstvedt (75’ Aasgaard), Berg (65’ Thorsby), Berge, Nusa; Sorloth (75’ Bobb), Haaland (88’ Strand Larsen). Substitutes: Dyngeland, Tangvk, Schjelderup, Bjorkan, Pedersen, Arnstad, Langas. Head Coach: Solbakken.
Referee: Hernandez (Spain); Assistants: Naranjo and Sanchez Rojo (Spain); Fourth official: Sanchez (Spain); VAR: del Cerro Grande (Spain); AVAR: Gomez (Spain).
Goals: 11’ Esposito (I), 63’ Nusa (N), 77’ and 78’ Haaland (N), 90+3’ Strand Larsen (N).
Notes: Attendance of 69,020, generating a record gate receipt of €1,931,364. Booked: Barella (I), Bastoni (I) and Esposito (I).
GROUP I: RESULTS AND STANDINGS
Today: Israel 4-1 Moldova
Today: ITALY 1-4 Norway
Standings: **Norway 24 points, *ITALY 18, Israel 12, Estonia 4, Moldova 1.
**qualification for World Cup
*qualification for play-offs