Erling Haaland scored and Norway humbled Italy 3-0 for the primary time in 25 years in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Haaland on Friday (June 6, 2025) collected a by way of ball from playmaker Martin Odegaard and rounded goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the field for the third aim three minutes earlier than halftime.
It was his forty first aim in his forty second match for Norway to the delight of the spectators at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, together with King Harald V of Norway.
Haaland additionally scored when Moldova was overwhelmed 5-0 and Israel 4-2. Norway remained excellent in qualifying after three video games in Europe Group I.
Striker Alexander Sorloth acquired a exact move from Antonio Nusa then beat Donnarumma with a left foot shot. Nusa, the 20-year-old attacking midfielder, was a continuing menace to the Italian protection. He left behind two defenders and doubled the benefit with a rising shot from inside the realm.
Italy was lacking some regulars for its first qualifying match, whereas others didn’t impress, together with Mateo Retegui, the very best Serie A scorer.
Defenders Alessandro Buongiorno and Mattia Gabbia, defensive midfielder Manuel Locatelli and ahead Moise Kean have been all injured whereas key middle again Francesco Acerbi, who was meant to mark Haaland, turned down his callup.
Diego Coppola performed centre again in the three-man line of defense utilized by coach Luciano Spalletti that was not capable of cease Norway.
Norway dominates, Italy in bother
In the opposite Group I sport, Israel gained in Estonia 3-1 for a second win and second place.
The Azzurri are beneath strain from the beginning of their qualifying after failing to achieve the final two World Cups.
Winning the group is the one manner to make sure direct qualification to subsequent 12 months’s event in North America. The second-placed crew goes into the playoffs — the stage the place Italy was eradicated by Sweden and North Macedonia and dominated out of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, respectively.
A four-time World Cup champion, the one different time Italy did not qualify was for the 1958 version.
Italy hosts Moldova on Monday when Norway shall be in motion at Estonia.
Croatia cruises, Belgium held
Croatia opened its qualifying with a 7-0 rout of minnow Gibraltar.
Mario Pašalic and Ante Budimir struck twice for Croatia inside two minutes to interrupt the impasse after half an hour. In the second half, substitutes Andrek Kramaric and Franjo Ivanovis scored a pair every and Ivan Perisic piled on.
Croatia was runner-up in the 2018 World Cup and third in 2022.
In the identical Group L, Adam Hložek and Patrik Schick every scored as the unbeaten Czech Republic beat Montenegro 2-0 for a 3rd straight win.
Belgium was 1-0 up on a aim by defender Maxim De Cuyper however Ezgjan Alioski salvaged a draw for North Macedonia in a shock in Group J.
Wales tops the group with seven factors from three video games after a 3-0 victory over Liechtenstein. North Macedonia was two factors behind.
Europe to contribute a 3rd of all groups
Europe could have 16 groups in the expanded 48-team discipline for the World Cup.
They will come from the winners of the 12 qualifying teams plus 4 from a playoff of the 12 group runners-up along with 4 best-ranked group winners in the Nations League that do not end first or second in the qualifying.
The group stage of European qualifying runs by way of November.
Published – June 07, 2025 10:04 am IST
