World Cup qualifiers: Spalletti exits with flat Italy victory, Haaland gives Norway boost

The Guardian

6 hours ago

Luciano Spalletti took charge of Italy one last time on Monday, and while his side sent him off with a win, the sacked manager accepted that he is not leaving the team in a good place for his replacement.
Spalletti paid the price for a 3-0 drubbing in Norway on Friday as Italy's World Cup qualifying campaign in Europe's Group I was compromised in their opening game, and an uninspired 2-0 home win over Moldova was not how he wished to bow out. Italy broke the deadlock five minutes before half-time through Giacomo Raspadori's strike from the edge of the penalty area, with Andrea Cambiaso adding another soon after the restart.
'I'm disappointed with the result,' Spalletti said. 'I don't give back to those who come after me a great national team, because we didn't play a great match tonight either. I was given the opportunity to work, I tried, I made mistakes and I even tried some experiments. I try to learn everything in whatever I approach; I'm not convinced I'm the smartest one. I haven't been able to get the best out of these players and I have to take note of that.'
The former Napoli manager announced his own dismissal on the eve of the Moldova match, which comes after less than two years in the role and included a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign. 'If you agree to coach the national team like I did, then you have to find the solution. You can't hide behind the fact that you have few players, you start to find alibis,' Spalletti said. 'I did badly and in some ways it is right that I go home. But I didn't resign, because I think I can do better. But, if I am told that I am no longer the one, then I sign the resolution [of the contract].'
Italy have yet to name his replacement, with Claudio Ranieri reported to be the first choice. Spalletti was asked if he had any advice for his eventual successor. 'I tried to shake things up when I arrived but then maybe it was worse from what we saw,' he said. 'I wish all the best to the federation and to the new coach who will arrive.'
Meanwhile, Norway strengthened their position at the top of Group I with a 1-0 win away in Estonia to maintain their perfect start after four games. Erling Haaland got the only goal just after the hour.
In Group J, North Macedonia sit a point clear of Wales after a first-half goal from Aleksandar Trajkovski secured a 1-0 win away in Kazakhstan. Craig Bellamy's Wales lost a 4-3 thriller away to Belgium.
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Croatia thrashed the Czech Republic 5-1 in Osijek to make it two wins from two in Group L. After Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol saw his early goal from a free-kick ruled out for offside, Andrej Kramaric broke the deadlock three minutes before half-time. The Czech captain, Tomas Soucek, headed in an equaliser just before the hour from a corner.
Luka Modric swiftly put Croatia back in front from the penalty spot with Ivan Perisic adding a third in the 68th minute. Then Croatia put the result beyond doubt with two goals in the space of three minutes. Ante Budimir converted another spot-kick before Kramaric slotted in a fifth. The Czech Republic remain top of the group, having suffered a first loss after three straight wins. In the same group, the Faroe Islands came from behind to beat Gibraltar 2-1 in Tórshavn with a late goal from Patrik Johannesen.