Erling Haaland scored and Norway humbled Italy 3-0 for the primary time in 25 years in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup on Friday.
Haaland collected a by ball from playmaker Martin Odegaard and rounded goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma within 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 crushed 5-0 and Israel 4-2. Norway remained good in qualifying after three video games in Europe Group I.
Striker Alexander Sorloth obtained a exact go from Antonio Nusa then beat Donnarumma with a left foot shot. Nusa, the 20-year-old attacking midfielder, was a continuing risk to the Italian protection. He left behind two defenders and doubled the benefit with a rising shot from inside the realm.
Erling Haaland and Gianluigi Donnarumma embrace after Norway’s 3-0 win in World Cup qualifying. (Picture by LISE ASERUD/NTB/AFP through Getty Photographs)
Italy was lacking some regulars for its first qualifying match, whereas others did not impress, together with Mateo Retegui, one of the best Serie A scorer.
Defenders Alessandro Buongiorno and Mattia Gabbia, defensive midfielder Manuel Locatelli and ahead Moise Kean had been all injured whereas key middle again Francesco Acerbi, who was meant to mark Haaland, turned down his callup.
Diego Coppola performed middle again within the three-man defensive position utilized by coach Luciano Spalletti that was not capable of cease Norway.
Norway dominates, Italy in bother
Within the different Group I sport, Israel gained in Estonia 3-1 for a second win and second place.
The Azzurri are below strain from the beginning of their qualifying after failing to succeed in the final two World Cups.
Profitable the group is the one method to make sure direct qualification to subsequent 12 months’s match in North America. The second-placed workforce 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 didn’t qualify was for the 1958 version.
Italy hosts Moldova on Monday when Norway will probably be in motion at Estonia.
The Azzurri are below strain from the beginning of their qualifying after failing to succeed in the final two World Cups. (Picture by Claudio Villa – FIGC/FIGC through Getty Photographs)
Croatia cruises, Belgium held
Croatia opened its qualifying with a 7-0 rout of minnow Gibraltar.
Mario Pasalic and Ante Budimir struck twice for Croatia inside two minutes to interrupt the impasse after half an hour. Within the second half, substitutes Andrek Kramaric and Franjo Ivanovis scored a pair every and Ivan Perisic piled on.
Croatia was runner-up within the 2018 World Cup and third in 2022.
In the identical Group L, Adam Hlozek and Patrik Schick every scored because 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 can have 16 groups within the expanded 48-team discipline for the World Cup.
They’ll 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 within the Nations League that don’t end first or second within the qualifying.
The group stage of European qualifying runs by November.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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