Italy Advances to Playoffs as Israel Secures a Victory

The evening’s matches had a continental thriller vibe, but one game stood out: at Stadio Meazza, Italy suffered a heavy defeat, losing 1-4 to Norway. This latest setback deepened the country’s sense of national anxiety, as the Squadra Azzurra now faces the prospect of qualifying for the World Cup through playoffs for the third consecutive time. Since 2018 and 2022, the word “playoffs” has filled the nation with dread. Everything seemed to start well when Esposito scored in the 11th minute, igniting hope in the fans. However, the optimism quickly faded as Norway, led by Solbakken and powered by Nusa, saw Haaland score twice to crush any remaining hopes before Strand Larsen added a fourth in stoppage time (90+4 minutes). In this tense atmosphere, Gennaro Gattuso openly criticized FIFA’s regulations, which make European qualifications more difficult than those in other confederations. Despite their six wins in eight matches, Italy could not secure a direct qualification.

The irony is harsh: Italy is not a weak team, yet they find themselves in a precarious position, facing playoffs where the weight of the past looms large. From the stands to living rooms, the nation holds its breath. While Italy collapsed, other matches showcased contrasting fortunes, particularly Israel’s impressive 4-1 win against Moldova in Chişinău. Turgeman opened the scoring with a well-taken penalty (21st minute). Even after Moldova equalized through Nicolăescu (37th minute), Ben Shimon’s team ramped up their game in the second half with goals from Revivo and Peretz, sealing a comfortable victory. This vibrant match was marked by a creative and mobile offensive unit that shattered Moldova’s resistance. As the evening unfolded with reliefs and heartaches, everything inevitably returned to Italy’s struggles — a football team haunted by recent troubles while others move forward. The Squadra now braces for a tense December ahead: another playoff, a daunting challenge, yet still a chance to avert another national upheaval.