World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Italy, Norway & Haaland – Updates
- Luciano Spalletti's final match as coach of italy concluded with a 2-0 victory against Moldova.
- Spalletti, who announced his departure before the game, cited a recent 3-0 loss to Norway as a key factor.
- “I’m disappointed with the result,” Spalletti said.
Italy’s World Cup 2026 qualifiers are in focus after a critical match. Luciano Spalletti’s final game as Italy’s coach ended with a 2-0 victory, though Spalletti himself admitted the team failed to perform at its peak during his tenure, citing shortcomings and a 3-0 loss to Norway as key factors. Norway, with Erling Haaland, continued its strong qualifying run, while North Macedonia and Croatia also secured wins. This recap delivers the most crucial updates on Italy’s performance,along with other match results. News Directory 3 delivers these timely updates. Discover what’s next for Italy’s squad.
Spalletti Reflects on Italy Tenure After Win Against Moldova
Updated June 09, 2025
Luciano Spalletti’s final match as coach of italy concluded with a 2-0 victory against Moldova. Despite the win, Spalletti expressed disappointment, stating he wasn’t leaving the team in an ideal state.Giacomo Raspadori and Andrea Cambiaso scored for Italy.
Spalletti, who announced his departure before the game, cited a recent 3-0 loss to Norway as a key factor. He admitted failing to maximize the team’s potential and accepted responsibility for the underwhelming Euro 2024 campaign.
“I’m disappointed with the result,” Spalletti said. “I don’t give back to those who come after me a great national team, because we didn’t play a great match tonight either. I was given the possibility to work, I tried, I made mistakes and I even tried some experiments. I try to learn everything in whatever I approach; I’m not convinced I’m the smartest one. I haven’t been able to get the best out of thes players and I have to take note of that.”
Meanwhile, Norway solidified their Group I lead with a 1-0 victory over Estonia, with Erling Haaland scoring the decisive goal. In Group J, North Macedonia secured a 1-0 win against Kazakhstan, while Wales lost to Belgium 4-3.
In group L, Croatia dominated the Czech Republic with a 5-1 victory, led by Andrej Kramaric’s two goals.The Faroe Islands also defeated Gibraltar 2-1.
What’s next
Italy is now searching for a new coach, with Claudio Ranieri reportedly a leading candidate. The focus will be on revitalizing the national team and improving their performance in future competitions.