Italy Secureโ Win in Estonia, But Playoffโข Path Remains the Focus
Tallinn, Estonia โข- Italy defeated Estonia 3-1 โon Friday, aโ result that, while securing aโ victory, underscores the team’s likely route โขto โฃtheโ World Cup will be thru the playoffs. The โขwin was tempered by an injury to forward Moise โขKean and a rare error from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Kean opened โคthe scoringโข in the 12th minute with a right-footed shot after a through ball from Federico โคDimarco, butโฃ suffered a sprained right ankle just three minutes later, forcing him off the pitch after a brief return to play. โขShortly after, inโข the 20thโ minute,โฃ Italyโ extended their leadโค through Pio Esposito, who scored his โขfirst goal for the Azzurri with a powerful right-footed โshot assisted by Leonardo Spinazzola.
However, italy conceded for the โฃthirdโฃ consecutive away โขgame in World Cup/European Championship qualifying when Donnarumma allowed a harmless cross from Soomets to slip through his gloves, leading to a goal for Estonia’s โSappinen.
Italy regainedโ their two-goal advantage โฃbefore halftimeโข with a goal from Mateo Retegui, โขassisted by Andrea Orsolini following another Dimarco contribution – a headed flick-on from Saliste. Retegui โhad previously been deniedโฃ a goal from the penalty spot, his attempt hitting โthe post after earning the penaltyโ himself. Further goalsโ from Giacomo Raspadori and โSpinazzola completed the scoring.
Despite the win, Italy’s โคfocus remains on securing second โplace in the group, which guarantees a playoffโข spot in March. With Norway’s strongโฃ position in โthe group, โคItaly must now defeatโ Israel on โคTuesday in Udine, were a draw may be sufficient, given Bastoni’s suspension.
“The important thing is to create – then you โcan miss โgoals โand penalties,” stated Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso after the match.โ “The kids have theโ desire,โ they are on the right path. We need to recover quickly, but if weโข beat Israel theyโ will goโ out of business, โขwith โคa view to the playoffs.We have aโ mission: we must grow, work well andโค have โขmore conviction. โBut in this spirit I amโ very happy.”
The โคupcoming match โagainst Norway on Novemberโข 16th, while not โขimpacting playoff qualificationโ due to Norway’s significant goal โคdifference (+19), will serve as a valuableโฃ testโ for the team.