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Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Italy struggle but give sacked Spalletti winning send-off against Moldova
ITALY - Sacked Italy manager Luciano Spalletti bowed out with a victory after his side laboured to an uninspired 2-0 home win over Moldova in their World Cup qualification match on Monday thanks to goals from Giacomo Raspadori and Andrea Cambiaso. Spalletti announced his own dismissal on Sunday following Italy's 3-0 loss in Norway in their opening group game on Friday, but took charge for one final time where again the performance showed why a change of leadership was required. Norway, who won 1-0 in Estonia with Erling Haaland netting the winner, top Group I on 12 points from four games, with Israel on six points after three matches while Italy are third with three points from their two games. "I asked the guys to let me go out with a victory," Spalletti told Sky Sport shortly before kickoff. While his players duly obliged, it was perhaps a fitting end to Spalletti's time on the bench as another lacklustre showing failed to light up a far from full Stadio Citta del Tricolore. With Italy's slow, predictable build-up play failing to break through the visitors' rearguard, the hosts were given an early wake-up call when Ion Nicolaescu found the net only for his goal to be ruled out for offside. Italy's first threat came when defender Luca Ranieri, making his international debut, hit the crossbar with a header, and they found the breakthrough five minutes before the break. A headed clearance fell to Raspadori in the box who struck first time into the bottom corner but Moldova almost levelled before halftime when Oleg Reabciuk's shot from distance was parried away by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Artur Ionita's follow-up effort went wide of the far post and Daniel Dumbravanu's header from a corner was cleared off the line by Federico Dimarco as Italy hung onto their lead. Italy doubled their lead five minutes into the second half when substitute Riccardo Orsolini sent a low cross into the area which Davide Frattesi knocked on to Cambiaso who fired past keeper Cristian Avram. The two-goal cushion failed to inspire Italy. Frattesi was sent through on goal from a ball over the top by Alessandro Bastoni but he sent his shot straight at the keeper and Moldova continued to create chances of their own. "We struggled again tonight," Spalletti told Rai Sport. "When you are the coach of the national team you cannot have alibis because he chooses the players and if they don't do well he can change them." Spalletti's name was booed by large sections of the crowd when read out before kickoff, and the game failed to improve the mood, and Italian fans will hope for better when a replacement, rumoured to be Claudio Ranieri, is installed. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers: Donnarumma says Italy's form unacceptable after drubbing by Norway
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma offered no excuses for his side's poor showing in their 3-0 defeat at Norway in the World Cup qualifiers on Friday, saying their form was not acceptable and the fans deserve better. Playing the first match of their qualifying campaign, Italy was stunned after a ruthless first-half performance by Norway, which put three past the visitor thanks to Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland. Italy sits fourth in Group I, while Norway leads the group with nine points from three matches. Estonia, Moldova and Israel are also in Group I. 'I have no explanation at the moment. You just have to go inside and realise the performance tonight. Our fans don't deserve this,' Donnarumma told Italian TV channel Rai Sport. 'We all have to come out of these games together, we need to examine our conscience.' The four-times World Cup winner has not qualified for the global showpiece event since 2014. Italy manager Luciano Spalletti said his team was going through a difficult patch and that he would speak with the Italian Football Federation about the situation. ALSO READ: Haaland scores as Norway thrashes Italy in FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers 'From us, it has to come from us first of all. We are Italy and these matches are not acceptable... We must be more united than before,' said Donnarumma, who won the Champions League, Ligue 1, French Cup and French Super Cup titles with Paris St Germain in the recently concluded season. Italy next hosts fifth-placed Moldova on Monday.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Donnarumma Slams Italy's 3-0 Loss to Norway in WC Qualifier
ITALY goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma offered no excuses for his side's poor showing in their 3-0 defeat at Norway in the World Cup qualifiers on Friday, saying their form was not acceptable and the fans deserve better. Playing the first match of their qualifying campaign, Italy were stunned after a ruthless first-half performance by Norway, who put three past the visitors thanks to Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland. Italy sit fourth in Group I, while Norway lead the group with nine points from three matches. Estonia, Moldova and Israel are also in Group I. 'I have no explanation at the moment. You just have to go inside and realise the performance tonight. Our fans don't deserve this,' Donnarumma told Italian TV channel Rai Sport. 'We all have to come out of these games together, we need to examine our conscience.' The four-times World Cup winners have not qualified for the global showpiece event since 2014. Italy manager Luciano Spalletti said his team were going through a difficult patch and that he would speak with the Italian Football Federation about the situation. 'From us, it has to come from us first of all. We are Italy and these matches are not acceptable... We must be more united than before,' said Donnarumma, who won the Champions League, Ligue 1, French Cup and French Super Cup titles with Paris St Germain in the recently concluded season. Italy next host fifth-placed Moldova on Monday.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Donnarumma says Italy's form unacceptable after drubbing by Norway
ITALY goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma offered no excuses for his side's poor showing in their 3-0 defeat at Norway in the World Cup qualifiers on Friday, saying their form was not acceptable and the fans deserve better. Playing the first match of their qualifying campaign, Italy were stunned after a ruthless first-half performance by Norway, who put three past the visitors thanks to Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland. Italy sit fourth in Group I, while Norway lead the group with nine points from three matches. Estonia, Moldova and Israel are also in Group I. 'I have no explanation at the moment. You just have to go inside and realise the performance tonight. Our fans don't deserve this,' Donnarumma told Italian TV channel Rai Sport. 'We all have to come out of these games together, we need to examine our conscience.' The four-times World Cup winners have not qualified for the global showpiece event since 2014. Italy manager Luciano Spalletti said his team were going through a difficult patch and that he would speak with the Italian Football Federation about the situation. 'From us, it has to come from us first of all. We are Italy and these matches are not acceptable... We must be more united than before,' said Donnarumma, who won the Champions League, Ligue 1, French Cup and French Super Cup titles with Paris St Germain in the recently concluded season. Italy next host fifth-placed Moldova on Monday.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Soccer-Donnarumma says Italy's form unacceptable after drubbing by Norway
June 7 - Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma offered no excuses for his side's poor showing in their 3-0 defeat at Norway in the World Cup qualifiers on Friday, saying their form was not acceptable and the fans deserve better. Playing the first match of their qualifying campaign, Italy were stunned after a ruthless first-half performance by Norway, who put three past the visitors thanks to Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland. Italy sit fourth in Group I, while Norway lead the group with nine points from three matches. Estonia, Moldova and Israel are also in Group I. "I have no explanation at the moment. You just have to go inside and realise the performance tonight. Our fans don't deserve this," Donnarumma told Italian TV channel Rai Sport. "We all have to come out of these games together, we need to examine our conscience." The four-times World Cup winners have not qualified for the global showpiece event since 2014. Italy manager Luciano Spalletti said his team were going through a difficult patch and that he would speak with the Italian Football Federation about the situation. "From us, it has to come from us first of all. We are Italy and these matches are not acceptable... We must be more united than before," said Donnarumma, who won the Champions League, Ligue 1, French Cup and French Super Cup titles with Paris St Germain in the recently concluded season. Italy next host fifth-placed Moldova on Monday.
