Italy vs Norway match review, 2:45 a.m. November 17: Overturn the top spot with… 9 goals?

VHO - Commenting on the match between Italy and Norway, 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the home team will probably only aim to fight for honor and the debt they owed in the first leg.

Italy vs Norway form

In theory, Italy still holds the right to decide in the final match. The Blue Army is currently ranked 2nd in Group I, 3 points behind Norway and will directly face the Nordic representative in a battle that will determine the top spot in Milan.

But the reality is much more bitter and cruel for the home team. Because although the gap between the two sides is only 3 points, the huge difference in goal difference brings a problem that is too difficult to find a solution for coach Gennaro Gattuso and his team.

To dethrone their opponents and secure a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup, Italy must win by a margin of... 9 goals. This is certainly an unimaginable result and even the most dreamy and fanciful fans in the country of the boot would not dare to believe that such a crazy thing would happen.

Looking at the performances of both sides throughout the qualifying journey, it is easy to see that even a narrow victory would be a difficult task for Donnarumma and his teammates. In addition to the convincing 0-3 defeat in the opening visit to Oslo, Italy also struggled against opponents that Norway won quite easily.

For example, the encounter with the bottom team Moldova a few days ago. It took two late goals from Gianluca Mancini (88') and Francesco Pio Esposito (90'+2) for Gli Azzurri to be able to leave with all 3 points.

Meanwhile, against Moldova, Norway easily created crushing victories of 5-0 and 11-1. Also thanks to the devastating victories (5/7 matches with a difference of 3 goals or more), the Nordic representative scored 33 goals and only conceded 4 times (+29 goal difference). While the similar statistics of Italy were only 20 goals scored and 8 goals conceded (+12).

Haaland and his teammates are almost certain to have tickets to the 2026 World Cup.

The right to self-determination is only on paper, causing Gattuso and his team to enter the final battle with a mixed mood. On one hand, the Blue Legion will fight for honor and pay back the debt they borrowed in the first leg. But on the other hand, the hopeless scenario of overthrowing the throne also makes it easy for them to lose focus.

Only by mastering the spirit, accepting the second place, which means having to play the play-off, and going out to fight for the national flag, can Italy hope to win 3 points. Otherwise, the pain against Norway may be even longer.

Regardless of how Milan leave (barring a loss by nine or more goals), the visitors will be in the World Cup for the first time in 28 years. A worthy result for the flawless performance of Erling Haaland and his teammates before the final match.

Italy vs Norway squad information

Italy: Sandro Tonali is likely to be sidelined for fear of another yellow card that could see him suspended for the play-off. Moise Kean and Niccolo Cambiaghi are nursing injuries.

Norway: Martin Odegaard is the only notable absentee.

Expected lineup Italy vs Norway

Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Bastoni, Dimarco; Barella, Locatelli, Cristante; Politano, Retegui, Raspadori

Norway: Nyland; Ryerson, Heggem, Ajer, Bjorkan; Bobb, Berg, Berge, Nusa; Sorloth, Haaland

Prediction: 2-2

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/nhan-dinh-tran-dau-italy-vs-na-uy-2h45-ngay-1711-lat-ngoi-dau-bang-9-ban-181789.html