Italy verdict: Papers give damning review of Spalletti’s World Cup chances | OneFootball

Saturday’s papers claim that there is a ‘legitimate threat’ to Italy’s World Cup qualification chances, and that it is now realistic to ‘expect the worst of the worst’ after a 3-0 loss to Norway in Oslo on Friday night.

Italy began their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign with a 3-0 humbling away against Norway after first-half strikers from Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland, which leaves the Azzurri nine points off the top of qualification Group I after their first match.

In Europe, only the teams that finish at the top of their qualification groups will qualify directly for the World Cup finals, and those that finish second will have to settle for a spot in the play-offs. Third or below will not be enough to qualify.

DORTMUND, GERMANY – MARCH 23: Luciano Spalletti looks on during the UEFA Nations League Quarterfinal Leg Two match between Germany and Italy at Football Stadium Dortmund on March 23, 2025 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

This is now the first time in history that Italy have lost two consecutive World Cup qualifiers, having also lost 1-0 to North Macedonia in their most recent qualifier in 2022, and the first time that the national team have failed to score for three consecutive qualifying matches.

What Italian press said about Norway 3-0 Italy

La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that there is a risk Italy’s chances of directly qualifying for the 2026 World Cup are ‘over before it began’ after Friday night’s 3-0 thumping by Norway.

epa11984157 Alessandro Buongiorno (R) gestures during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal, 2nd leg match between Germany and Italy in Dortmund, Germany, 23 March 2025. EPA-EFE/FRIEDEMANN VOGEL

The Pink Paper claims it is already time to start preparing for the World Cup qualification play-offs, which will be the third time in a row that has happened if it comes to it.

La Gazzetta dello Sport described the performance against Italy as ‘embarrassing’ and that we have now come to ‘expect the worst of the worst’ from the national team.

Saturday’s round-up lays the blame at the feet of CT Luciano Spalletti and FIGC President Gabriele Gravina, who was also involved when Italy failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

epa10835406 Head coach Luciano Spalletti (R) and President of the Italian Football Federation Gabriele Gravina attend a press conference in Coverciano in Florence, 02 September 2023. EPA-EFE/CLAUDIO GIOVANNINI

Corriere dello Sport, meanwhile, points to a lack of ‘quality’ among the playing squad.

Comparing Friday’s performance to that of Portugal in their 2-1 win over Germany, or Spain in their enthralling 5-4 win over France, Italy looked ‘20 to 30 years behind’, Corriere dello Sport wrote.