Italy maintained their perfect record under Gennaro Gattuso with a crucial 3-1 win in Estonia during World Cup qualifying, preventing them from losing further ground on rivals Norway.
After seeing Norway move nine points clear at the top of Group I with a dominant 5-0 win over Israel earlier on Saturday, the Azzurri moved back within six points with a game in hand and a head-to-head meeting with Erling Haaland and company ahead.
The visitors wasted no time in going ahead when Moise Kean curled into the far corner after beating Marten Kuusk after just four minutes, although the Fiorentina striker didn’t last much longer before limping off injured.
Federico Dimarco’s clearance almost spilled over to Rocco Shein but Italy had a golden opportunity to double their lead when Mateo Retegui hit the deck under Kuusk’s challenge in the area. However, Retegui’s penalty was brilliantly tipped onto the right post by Karl Hein.
However, Retegui made amends in the 38th minute when he headed home after being found by Riccardo Orsolini’s cutback from the right, with the goal surviving a VAR check for offside.
Retegui sent another shot over the crossbar early in the second half, before his instinctive tap sent Giacomo Raspadori through on goal. However, Hein made himself big by denying the Atletico Madrid man.
Francesco Pio Esposito put Italy further ahead when he deflected Leonardo Spinazzola’s cross into the far corner in the 74th minute. Although Rauno Sappinen took advantage of a Gianluigi Donnarumma mistake to pull one back, it was too little too late for Estonia.
4 – Moise Kean becomes the fourth player to score in at least four consecutive World Cup qualifiers for Italy after:
Luigi Riva (5 goals, 1968–1972)
Roberto Bettega (4, 1976–1977)
Filippo Inzaghi (4, 2000–2001)Coherence.#EstoniaItalia
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) October 11, 2025
Data Debrief: Gattuso’s record-breaking start
Italy scored five goals in their first two games under Gattuso last month, beating Estonia 5-0 and then beating Israel 5-4 in a thriller. And after scoring three more goals on Saturday, the Azzurri have scored 13 goals in three games under the AC Milan legend – more than in their first three games under any manager.
Kean achieved their first, becoming only the fourth player to score in at least four consecutive World Cup qualifiers for Italy, after Luigi Riva (five, 1968–72), Roberto Bettega (four, 1976–77) and Filippo Inzaghi (four, 2000–01).
However, Italy will desperately hope Kean’s ankle injury is not too serious as they need to win their last three games – and hope for favors from elsewhere – to have any chance of beating Norway for automatic qualification and avoiding the play-offs.
#Estonia #Italy #Gattusos #men #secure #crucial #qualifying #win #Soccer #News