Italy secures crucial qualifying win over Estonia
Italy maintained its perfect record under Gennaro Gattuso with a crucial 3-1 win in Estonia in FIFA World Cup qualifying, ensuring it did not lose further ground on rival Norway.
Having seen Norway pull nine points clear at the top of Group I with a dominant 5-0 win over Israel earlier in the day, the Azzurri moved back within six points with a game in hand and a head-to-head meeting with Erling Haaland and company to come.
The visitors wasted no time in going ahead as Moise Kean curled into the far corner after taking on Marten Kuusk just four minutes in, although the Fiorentina striker did not last much longer before limping off injured.
Federico Dimarco's clearance almost defected in off Rocco Shein, but Italy had a golden chance to double its lead when Mateo Retegui hit the deck under Kuusk's challenge inside the area. However, Retegui's penalty was brilliantly tipped on to the right post by Karl Hein.
Retegui made amends in the 38th minute, when he swept home after being found by Riccardo Orsolini's cutback from the right, with the goal surviving a video assistant referee (VAR) check for offside.
Retegui sent another shot spiralling over the crossbar early in the second half, before his instinctive flick sent Giacomo Raspadori through on goal. However, Hein made himself big to deny the Atletico Madrid man.
Francesco Pio Esposito put Italy further ahead when he diverted Leonardo Spinazzola's cross into the far corner in the 74th minute, and although Rauno Sappinen profited from a Gianluigi Donnarumma error to pull one back, it was too little, too late for Estonia.
Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso refused to dwell on the mistakes made by his Italy players during this match and encouraged his side to keep pushing and learn from its errors, rather than dwelling on what went wrong.
“We have a mission, which is to grow game by game, stay together and work hard, then build our confidence,” he said.
“When I see this spirit, we can make some mistakes, but I remain very happy with the performance.
“We’ve got to keep pushing and hope to keep growing too. Gigio’s error was just a moment, I rarely see any team dominate so completely for 90 minutes. If anything, it can help us remember the importance of focus.
“The important thing is to create the chances. You can miss them and see penalties saved too, but the important thing is to get those opportunities.
“We must continue like this, recover, because our history suggests we always struggle more in the second game. We have a lot at stake, as if we win, then Israel are out of the running, and we can prepare for the play-offs with more calm.”
Gattuso offered an update Keane after he was taken off.
“We’ll see, his ankle was painful and we hope it is nothing serious, as we need everyone. At least it was good that Pio [Esposito] came on and scored.”
Italy is unlikely to overhaul Norway even if it wins all three of its remaining games, as the leader has a positive goal difference of 26 to the Azzurri's seven, with a home game against Estonia still to come.
