Italy 1–4 Norway: Haaland Brace Fires Solbakken’s Side to World Cup as Azzurri Collapse Into Play-Offs
Norway delivered one of the most compelling and ruthless performances of the entire qualifying campaign, dismantling Italy 4–1 in Rome to book their first World Cup place since 1998. Erling Haaland, inevitably at the heart of everything destructive, struck twice on a night when the Azzurri unravelled under pressure, condemned once again to the anxieties and uncertainties of the play-offs.
In a match framed as Italy’s chance to seal direct progression in front of their home supporters, the atmosphere inside the Stadio Olimpico began with optimism. It ended with stunned silence, scattered whistles, and an overwhelming sense of déjà vu. For Norway, however, the final whistle triggered scenes of unrestrained joy, embracing decades of disappointment and near-misses.
A High-Stakes Night From the Start
Italy entered the contest knowing a win would be enough to qualify automatically. Norway, two points behind, needed victory to leapfrog the four-time world champions. The equation was simple; the execution, far more dramatic.
Luciano Spalletti kept faith with his preferred 4-3-3, restoring Federico Chiesa to the lineup and retaining Gianluca Scamacca up front. But from the earliest moments, warning signs flashed. Norway’s press was coordinated, aggressive, and clearly rehearsed to target Italy’s buildup through Jorginho and Nicolò Barella.
Within six minutes, the visitors had their first chance. Martin Ødegaard drifted into the half-space, received a line-breaking pass from Sander Berge, and clipped a precise ball behind Italy’s high line. Haaland sprinted clear, only to be denied by an alert Gianluigi Donnarumma. It set the tone: Italy were jittery, Norway were fearless.
Norway Strike First Through Haaland
The breakthrough arrived in the 19th minute, and it felt inevitable. A turnover in midfield—this time Jorginho dispossessed—allowed Ødegaard to release Haaland once again. This time, the Manchester City striker made no mistake. Using his strength to hold off Acerbi and his composure to round Donnarumma with two touches, Haaland passed the ball into the net as Norwegian fans behind the goal erupted.
Italy’s response was muted. They attempted to push higher, but their passing lacked precision and their forward line lacked chemistry. Chiesa, returning from injury, struggled to impose himself, while Scamacca was starved of service.
Italy Momentarily React—But Norway Hit Back Immediately
A glimmer of hope came in the 31st minute. After a rare sustained spell of possession, Frattesi released Di Lorenzo on the overlap. The full-back’s low cross found Chiesa, whose deflected shot wrong-footed Nyland to bring Italy level at 1–1.
For a moment, the Olimpico roared back to life, believing the Azzurri had finally awakened. But the momentum lasted barely two minutes.
Norway responded with cold, clinical brutality. A quick combination on the right saw Pedersen fire a dangerous cross into the area. Donnarumma punched it poorly, sending the ball straight to the edge of the box where Berge stood waiting. The Burnley midfielder struck a controlled volley into the bottom corner to restore the lead almost instantly.
The goal visibly deflated Italy. The defensive line retreated deeper, the midfield lost its shape, and the attack became increasingly desperate.
Haaland’s Second Turns the Match Into a Rout
Spalletti attempted to steady his side at halftime, but the second half began almost exactly as the first: Norway hungry, Italy hesitant.
In the 57th minute, the visitors struck again with a goal that encapsulated all the gaps in Italy’s structure. Ødegaard, drifting unmarked between the lines, slid in Haaland with a perfectly weighted pass. Haaland accelerated past Bastoni and hammered a left-footed strike across Donnarumma for 3–1.
It was Haaland at his devastating best—direct, unstoppable, and utterly ruthless. The Norwegian supporters erupted into chants of “We’re going to the World Cup,” sensing history within reach.
Italy Lose Control as Norway Add a Fourth
Italy were forced to push forward recklessly, but their attempts to rescue the match only deepened their collapse. Substitutions—Retegui, Zaniolo, and Cristante—did little to alter the dynamic. Norway maintained discipline, waiting for transitional moments to strike.
In the 73rd minute, they punished Italy again. A rapid counterattack saw Aron Dønnum streak down the left flank before cutting into the box and squaring for Oscar Bobb. The Manchester City winger calmly finished past Donnarumma to seal a stunning 4–1 victory.
The goal was a symbolic one: a new generation of Norwegian talent rising together, fearless and full of belief.
Italy’s Attacking Failures and Defensive Disarray
For all of Norway’s excellence, Italy were undeniably complicit in their own downfall. Their defensive shape was inconsistent, their midfield struggled to win duels, and the lack of creativity in the final third was glaring.
Barella and Jorginho were suffocated by Norway’s pressing rotations, leaving Italy unable to progress the ball cleanly. Scamacca often drifted deep to compensate, leaving no presence in the box. Chiesa, trying to do too much on his own, ran into traffic repeatedly.
By the final 15 minutes, Italy’s attacks had dissolved into speculative crosses and long-range attempts easily dealt with by Norway’s compact back line.
Norway’s Golden Generation Arrives
For Norway, this victory felt like a landmark moment—one long promised but repeatedly postponed. With Haaland, Ødegaard, Berge, Bobb, Aursnes, and a cohort of technically gifted, tactically mature players, the nation has been building toward a breakthrough.
Under Ståle Solbakken, they have developed a clear identity: vertical transitions, structured pressing, and the quality to punish any lapse. This performance captured all of those traits perfectly.
Haaland’s brace was magnificent, but Ødegaard’s orchestration was equally influential. The Arsenal captain controlled tempo, linked play, and found pockets of space the Italians never managed to close.
Azzurri Fate Now in the Hands of the Play-Offs Again
For Italy, the reaction after the match was somber. Spalletti admitted his team were “second-best in every department” and acknowledged the emotional weight of facing yet another play-off campaign.
The scars of missing the last two World Cups are still fresh, and another stumble would be catastrophic for Italian football. The pressure on senior players—and on Spalletti himself—will be immense in the coming weeks.
Italy now await their play-off opponents, with fans anxious about what comes next, while Norway celebrate a long-awaited return to the sport’s biggest stage.
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