In the last game of national coach Luciano Spalletti (66), Italy narrowly avoided a embarrassment in the qualification for the 2026 World Cup. In Reggio Emilia, the four -time world champion won 2-0 (1-0) against outsider Moldau, but was once again defensively susceptible and offensive. Only Giacomo Raspadori (40th) and Andrea Cambiaso (50th) met for the hosts.
At the same time, Norway did not bare itself in Estonia and, after the 1-0 (0: 0) with four wins from four games at the top of Group I. Stürmer Erling Haaland (62nd), scored the winning goal. Italy missed its prelude to the qualification in Norway last week (0: 3). The fear of the next World Cup without the Squadra Azzurra deals in Italy.
For Spalletti it was the end of his less than two years in office on Monday. Before the game, he had announced his own expression. “I will sit on the bench tomorrow and then give approval to the termination of the contract,” said Spalletti: “I'm sorry, I would have liked to have stayed and tried to change something.”
Ranieri as a successor?
His successor is said to be Claudio Ranieri. The 73-year-old had already declared his coaching career to be over, but recently jumped in at AS Rome. Instead of finally retiring, Ranieri, according to Gazzetta Dello Sport from the Roma owner Dan Friedkin, had the approval for a double role as a club consultant and national coach.
A lot of work would wait for Ranieri. That showed the game against Moldova. After nine minutes the guests cheered, but Ion Nicolaescu was just offside during his header. Italy struggled, Luca Ranieri only hit the latte (17th) during his international debut. Raspadori from Master SSC Naples caused the liberation, but Moldau remained dangerous by Oleg Reabciuk and Artur Ionita (43.).
After half-time, Cambiaso followed up, but the way to the World Cup finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico is far. Only the group winner qualifies directly, the second has to master the detour via the play-offs. Italy had already missed the 2018 World Championships in Russia and in 2022 in Qatar. The last great success of the Squadra Azzurra is the European Championship title 2021 in London.
