Latest news with #EuropeanWorldCup
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘Unprecedented crisis': After shock loss, Italy fear missing third straight World Cup
Italy, who have failed to qualify for the last two FIFA World Cups, are already fretting over the ignominy of missing the third after a 3-0 loss to Norway on Friday night. First half goals from Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland were enough for Norway to inflict another defeat on Italy, who found themselves in a precarious position, in the European World Cup qualifiers. Italy, yet to earn a point, are fourth in Group I, although they have played two games fewer than the teams above them because of their involvement in the Nations League. Norway are the table-toppers with nine points followed by Israel with six and Estonia are placed third with three points. Group winners directly qualify for the 2026 World Cup while the runners-up progress to the play-offs. The defeat has sparked fears in Italy of the former champions completing the dubious hat-trick of missing the World Cup, having missed the 2018 and 2022 editions as well. Leading Italian sports daily, Gazzetta Dello Sport, called the situation an 'unprecedented crisis.' 'Let's prepare for yet another torture in the playoffs, assuming we grab second place. The national team seen yesterday in Oslo was embarrassing and it is legitimate to doubt everything, to expect the worst of the worst. This is who we are, and we are poor, empty,' the newspaper noted. Italy's under-fire coach Luciano Spalletti took responsibility for Friday's defeat and told Sky Sport Italia that it was a 'difficult moment'. 'There are always worries, because after a performance like that, you clearly have to ask yourself questions and realise there are problems, but you have to face them, because there is no other possibility,' Spalletti said. Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma, too, was downcast, saying he had 'no explanation' for the loss. 'Our supporters don't deserve this kind of match,' Donnarumma, who won the Champions League with Paris St-Germain last Saturday, said. 'We need to do some soul-searching. It's unacceptable.' Italy's next face Moldova, who are bottom of their group, on Monday.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2026 World Cup Bubble Watch: No surprises in Europe's qualifiers, but March results set early tone
Bubble Watch Hub | AFC | CAF | CONCACAF | CONMEBOL | OFC European World Cup qualifying soft-launched in March. It won't kick into full gear until September, but six of the 12 groups — the ones with five teams, as opposed to four — are underway. Thus far, there have been no surprises. England took six points from its first two games. The rest of the top seeds will join the fray in June and September. In total, 16 European countries will qualify, the most from any single confederation ever. World Cup berths: 16 World Cup qualifying format: Europe's 54 eligible nations were split into 12 groups of four or five teams apiece. After a double round robin, the winner of each group qualifies for the World Cup. The runners-up, plus the four best-ranked teams remaining from a separate UEFA competition, the Nations League, go to playoffs — where they'd have to win two knockout matches to claim one of Europe's last four World Cup spots. Standings | Schedule and results Qualified: NoneConfident: Spain, France, England, Germany, PortugalBubble: Italy, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Netherlands, Poland, Wales, Serbia, Scotland, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Turkey, Georgia, Hungary, Ireland, Slovenia, Greece, Ukraine, Iceland, Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Norway, Israel, North Macedonia, Czech Republic, MontenegroLong shots: Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Belarus, Armenia, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Cyprus, Moldova, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Faroe Islands, GibraltarEliminated: NoneBanned: Russia Winner: Norway — In perhaps the most consequential game of the March window, Norway put four past Israel on Tuesday. It also trounced Moldova, and announced itself as the challenger to Italy in Group I. Winner: Bosnia and Herzegovina — A 1-0 win at Romania gave the Bosnians an early leg up in Group H. Austria is still favored to top that quintet, but Bosnia established itself as a contender — perhaps for the top spot, and definitely for a playoff place.
