Italy claimed their sixth consecutive victory in the group stage with a 2–0 win over Moldova in Chisinau, thanks to last-minute headers from Gianluca Mancini and Francesco Pio Esposito—five of those wins coming under coach Gennaro Gattuso. But celebrations for World Cup qualification began far away in Oslo, where Norway’s 4–1 win over Estonia all but secured their first-place finish in Group I. With a +17 goal difference, the gap is now impossible for Italy to close in Sunday’s match in Milan.

Despite losing only once—away to Norway—and collecting 18 points from six other games, Italy is effectively out of the race for the top spot. To reach the World Cup, they will now have to win two playoff matches in late March, a scenario that still recalls the bitter failures of 2017 and 2022.

Gattuso had warned that the match in Chisinau would not be easy. His team dominated from start to finish, creating numerous chances but breaking the deadlock only in the final minutes. “There are no easy games,” he said afterward. “But I’m satisfied. We did what we had to do, giving playing time to other players. Moldova never had a shot on goal.”
What upset him instead were the hostile chants from part of the crowd: “Hearing ‘go get a real job’ toward the players saddened me. This is not the time for that. We need unity, because the team is giving everything despite the difficulties.”