Italy 1-4 Norway

Norway have confirmed their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 4-1 hammering of Italy at the San Siro. Goals from Antonio Nusa, Jorgen Strand Larsen and a brace for Erling Haaland drowned out the early sparks Italy showed after Francesco Pio Esposito gave them an early lead in the 11th minute.

Stale Solbakken set his Norway team up in a 442 formation with Erling Haaland and Alexander Sorloth up top, flanked by Nusa and Kristian Thorstvedt. Gennaro Gattuso also lined Italy up in a 442 with Pio Esposito and Mateo Retegui as the two strikers, flanked on the left and right by Davide Fratessi and Matteo Politano respectively.

From minute 1, the clash presented a stark contrast between an Italy desperate for control and a patient Norway side waiting for their opportunity. After all, all the pressure was on Italy who needed to somehow win by 9 goals to even have a chance of automatic qualification.

The initial moments belonged firmly to the hosts. In the 5th minute, Italy’s intent was clear, though lacking precision, when Matteo Politano got an early chance but fired his shot wide of the goal. This early pressure, however, quickly translated into the opening goal for Italy.

In the 11th minute, Francesco Pio Esposito capitalized on a defensive error by Norway’s Julian Ryerson, collecting the ball, turning, and firing in from a few yards out to give Italy a 1-0 lead. Federico Dimarco provided the assist. This early goal appeared to validate Italy’s aggressive start and confirmed their ambition to dominate the Group I encounter.

Italy maintained their offensive momentum, and Esposito threatened again in the 35th minute, but his header flashed just wide of the post, narrowly missing a chance to double the lead. The intensity of the match, and perhaps the high stakes involved, led to disciplinary action before the break.

In the 44th minute, Italy’s head coach, Gennaro Gattuso, was booked for dissent after protesting a decision by the referee. As the first half drew to a close, Nicolò Barella received a yellow card for a late tackle in stoppage time. The half-time whistle confirmed Italy’s advantage at 1-0. Despite the slim margin, the statistics painted a picture of Italian control, as they dominated the first half with seven shots, though only one on target, while Norway had registered just one off-target attempt.

The second half brought a complete and rather dramatic reversal of fortune. Norway emerged with renewed aggression, immediately signaling their intent to turn the game around. In the 47th minute, Alexander Sørloth hit the side-netting and then blasted a shot just over the bar from the edge of the area, serving a clear warning to the Italian defense. Julian Ryerson followed up with a shot from the edge of the box that went wide in the 55th minute.

The inevitable Norwegian breakthrough arrived in the 63rd minute. Antonio Nusa scored the equalizer, completing a great team move down the middle by smashing a ferocious left-foot finish into the near top corner with Alexander Sørloth providing the assist.

With the score tied at 1-1, Norway immediately introduced a substitution, with Morten Thorsby coming on for Patrick Berg in the 64th minute. Italy’s frustration mounted, exemplified by Alessandro Bastoni receiving a yellow card for dissent in the 67th minute after the referee stopped play during an Italian counter-attack.

Italy responded with their first substitution, Bryan Cristante replacing Davide Frattesi in the 68th minute. The rising tensions boiled over in the 69th minute, resulting in simultaneous bookings for both sides: Francesco Pio Esposito and Erling Haaland were both booked after arguing over a free kick.

Norway, now fully in control, continued to press their advantage. In the 72nd minute, Gianluigi Donnarumma was forced into a crucial save from Antonio Nusa’s volley at the back post following a corner after which Kristoffer Ajer turned the rebound off target.

Norway then made a tactical double substitution, bringing on Thelo Aasgaard for Kristian Thorstvedt in the 75th minute , and crucially, Oscar Bobb for Alexander Sørloth in the 76th minute.

The changes immediately paid off, initiating a devastating three-goal blitz that crushed Italian hopes. In the 78th minute, Erling Haaland scored his first goal, executing a sensational volley at the far post from Oscar Bobb’s cross to put Norway ahead. Italy made a double substitution in a desperate attempt to regain control, with Mattia Zaccagni and Gianluca Scamacca replacing Francesco Pio Esposito and Manuel Locatelli in the 79th minute. However, this did not prevent the quick succession of goals.

Just moments after the restart, Erling Haaland scored his second goal in the 79th minute, tapping home from close range after Alessandro Bastoni gave the ball away and Morten Thorsby rolled it across. The score now stood at 3-1, and the match was effectively over.

Italy briefly attempted a fight back, with Matteo Politano attempting a curler that flashed just wide of the far post in the 82nd minute. In the 86th minute, Italy made their final double substitution, bringing on Samuele Ricci and Alessandro Buongiorno for Nicolò Barella and Alessandro Bastoni. Norway countered with their own final changes, with Leo Østigård and Jørgen Strand Larsen coming on for David Möller Wolfe and Erling Haaland in the 88th minute.

The final confirmation of Norway’s dominance came deep in stoppage time. In the 93rd minute, substitute Jørgen Strand Larsen scored the fourth goal, completing a run and bending his finish into the far bottom corner. Morten Thorsby earned his second assist by setting up the goal. Strand Larsen was subsequently shown a yellow card for excessive celebration. The final whistle sounded soon after with the score to seal both victory and World Cup qualification for Norway, who also finished their Group I campaign with a perfect record.