Gianluigi Donnarumma urged Italy to keep their heads up following a 4-1 hammering at the hands of Norway.

Italy will have to win a play-off if they are to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, with Sunday's defeat in Milan the final nail in the coffin of their slender hopes of automatic qualification.

The Azzurri required a huge swing in goal difference to finish above Norway in Group I, but after taking the lead at San Siro, Italy capitulated in the second half.

Antonio Nusa equalised before Erling Haaland scored twice in the space of 90 seconds, with Jorgen Strand Larsen rounding off Norway's emphatic comeback.

"It was a totally different match in the first half, we never let them out of their own half," Donnarumma told RAI Sport.

"We’ve got to do that for 95 minutes rather than 45, that is for sure.

“It’s a painful defeat, but we’ve got to lift our heads up, because it is all at stake in March with those two games.

"We must rediscover our confidence and self-belief, and I am sure that we will do it."

Italy coach Genaro Gattuso suggested his team were "fragile", and Donnarumma conceded the players have some questions to answer when they reconvene in March.

"It’s a question we ask ourselves," he said.

"A chance can happen against a great side like Norway, but it is not possible that you just fall apart, totally lose confidence, totally lose control of the game. That is not acceptable.

"We certainly need to improve in that, listen to the coach, keep working, and when we concede a goal, we’ve got to keep our heads in the game."

Italy have failed to qualify for the last two World Cups, having lost in the play-offs on each occasion.