italy Survive Wild 5-4 Thriller Against Israel in World Cup โคQualifying
TEL AVIV – Italy clawed their way back from โฃthe โbrink, securing aโค crucial โ5-4 victory over Israel on Saturday evening in aโข chaotic World Cup 2026 qualifyingโ match. โฃThe win, described by โItaly coach Rino Gattuso as โa game “that could have killed โme,” propels the Azzurri โค into second place in โคGroup I with nine points, level with Israel who โhave played one game more.
Italy’s path to victory was โfar from smooth,conceding multiple goals in a match that exposed defensiveโข vulnerabilities. “They surprised us a little atโ first, but each time we attacked, we could put them in difficulty,” Gattuso told RAI. “We will remember the โคvictory, which was crucial. But we โฃare crazy because we โฃhave taken absurd goals. We are too fragile. it is indeed not a criticism of the players, itโ is my problem, we must progress me and my staff.”
Moiseโฃ Kean scored twice for Italy, with Matteoโข Politano and Manuel โคLocatelli (an own goal initially) also finding the net. Despiteโ the defensiveโ concerns, playersโ expressed optimism. “We believe in qualification,” Kean stated post-match. “We have a great team, โa โvery good coach, andโ we can do greatโ things.”
Politano echoed this sentiment, saying, “We took aโ lot โขof goals tonight,โค but it was vital to have character and know how to react to tear this success. It was crazy, really crazy. But we โare happy to โhave been able to win thes two matches.” Locatelli โฃacknowledged the “fou” nature of the match but praised his team’s reaction.
The victory offers aโฃ lifeline for Italy, still haunted by their failure to qualify for the previous two World Cups, including a shocking defeat to North Macedonia.Gattuso acknowledged the โpsychological weight, stating, “I started badlyโ then I took the bar. Later, I had a significant rescue. We knew how to react in a team, but we have concededโฃ four goals and we willโข have to analyze that.”
Despite the defensive issues,Gattuso praised his players’ resilience. “My players had the strength to react to each slap taken,”โ he said. “It was not a big evening, but they put their hearts and the desire to โreact. This โis somethingโ weโ have to continue โฃto work.” Italy’s qualification hopes remainโ alive, but significant improvements are needed to secure a spot in the 2026 tournament.