Italy head to Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo to tackle Norway of their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Friday evening. Embroiled in UEFA Nations League motion in March, Gli Azzurri stay the one workforce in qualifying Group I but to play a recreation within the ongoing cycle.
Not like Italy, Norway contested two World Cup qualifiers in March. They backed up a thumping 5-0 victory at Moldova with one other high-scoring triumph, beating Israel 4-2 on the highway to ascend the group throne after the opening two rounds.
In doing so, supervisor Stale Solbakken could have laid the groundwork for Norway’s first World Cup qualification this century. Certainly, the Norwegians final reached the ultimate match in 1998. Subsequently, historical past beckons for the Scandinavians, whose standout performer, Erling Haaland, hopes to function in a significant worldwide competitors together with his nation for the primary time.
Although the Italians have been way more common at high occasions than their hosts, it’s been some time since they final appeared on the grandest worldwide stage. The four-time world champions haven’t certified for the World Cup since 2014, lacking out on the 2018 and 2022 editions regardless of going unbeaten within the earlier cycle.
Roberto Mancini’s Italy went unbeaten in all eight group-stage qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup (W4, D4) but nonetheless failed to succeed in the showpiece in Qatar. Their marketing campaign resulted in gorgeous style with a shock playoff defeat to continental minnows North Macedonia.
Match Preview
Norway
Buoyed by back-to-back victories in March, Norway shall be out to put up a 3rd consecutive win in World Cup qualifying for less than the second time this century. These triumphs kind a part of their four-match profitable streak total, with Solbakken’s facet netting an excellent 18 targets whereas solely conceding three in return throughout that spectacular sequence.
It stands to cause that Italy’s go to to Oslo is not going to intimidate the Norwegians, who boast an illustrious house document in World Cup qualifying. They’ve solely misplaced as soon as of their final 9 such fixtures (W5, D3), with 4 of these 5 wins yielding multi-goal margins, testifying to their dominance and rising confidence on house soil.
Nonetheless, historical past doesn’t favor Norway on this match-up by any stretch of the creativeness. Norway final defeated Italy in June 2000 and have since struggled on this fixture, shedding three of the next 4 encounters (D1), with every defeat seeing them concede exactly two targets.
But it surely’s value noting that the final assembly between these nations dates again to 2015.
Italy
Vying for his or her first World Cup qualification in over a decade, it’s crucial for Italy to get their Group I marketing campaign off to a flyer. Nonetheless, their current kind can not encourage a lot confidence. Luciano Spalletti’s fees carry an underwhelming three-match winless streak into this showdown (D1, L2), most not too long ago drawing 3-3 towards Germany.
Although they confronted France and the Germans throughout that lackluster patch, it’s hardly an excuse for conceding eight instances. Subsequently, Luciano Spalletti should patch up his fragile backline to extend Italy’s probabilities of returning to the World Cup finals. The Italians have historically fared nicely defensively on this competitors.
Certainly, they’ve stored 4 consecutive clear sheets in away World Cup qualifiers (W2, D2), final conceding towards Sweden in 2017. But, the ambiance across the nationwide workforce is much from idyllic, particularly after Inter Milan star Francesco Acerbi pulled out of the squad earlier this week, blaming an absence of respect from management.
Workforce Information
Named amongst ‘the very best heart forwards in males’s soccer’ by ESPN, Haaland will seemingly lead the road for Norway. Nonetheless, he’s not the one attacking risk, with Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard additionally bringing firepower and creativity to Solbakken’s frontline.
However, Spalletti can not rely on Alessandro Buongiorno and Matteo Gabbia on the again, in addition to Moise Kean upfront. As such, all eyes shall be on Alessandro Bastoni and Federico Gatti, with the previous looking for redemption for a calamitous efficiency in Inter’s humiliating 5-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.
Norway vs Italy Potential Beginning Line-ups
Norway (4-4-2): Nyland; Ryerson, Ostigard, Ajer, Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Berg, Schjelderup; Sorloth, Haaland.
Italy (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Gatti, Bastoni; Cambiaso, Barella, Ricci, Tonali, Udogie; Raspadori, Retegui.
Norway vs Italy Prediction
Italy could be naive to underestimate the dimensions of the duty forward. Even the world’s main bookmakers see Norway as pre-match favorites, maybe finest underlining the magnitude of the problem.
A tough-fought contest is on the playing cards, and whereas Norway could carry the sting on paper, Italy’s expertise in high-stakes duels may very well be sufficient to earn them a share of the spoil.
Prediction: Draw
 |
Comply with us on Google News for extra updates on Serie A and Italian soccer |
