Softfootball can report that Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy decisively began a new chapter, sweeping Estonia aside 5-0 in Bergamo on Friday evening. A brace from Mateo Retegui, plus goals from Moise Kean, Giacomo Raspadori, and Alessandro Bastoni, sealed a statement win in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Despite losing Gianluca Scamacca to injury, Gattuso’s side was relentless, with Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma leading the Azurris out of the tunnel and Retegui leading the frontline alongside Kean. Estonia, which had narrowly lost 1-0 to Norway earlier in the group, experienced a bigger humiliation than the last time. And just as the Italian gaffer had raised before the game, the Azurris took the game seriously at the sold-out Bergamo stadium to reignite their fans’ trust with a five-goal hammer on their opponent.
The Azzurri shared the success on their X handle, indicating the success of the game, with Retegui registering two goals and one brace.
It was a lively start from the Azzurri, who tested Estonia goalkeeper Karl Hein repeatedly inside the opening 30 minutes. Firstly, Hein denied Mattia Zaccagni at close range and then tipped Retegui’s header onto the bar on the stroke of half-time, keeping the scores level despite Italy’s offense.
Italy’s forward, Moise Kean, scored the Azurri’s opener against Estonia at Bergamo on Friday night. (Credit: @Azzurri on X).[/caption]
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 52nd minute. Retegui flicked on a Federico Dimarco cross with a clever backheel, allowing Kean to nod in from close range for 1-0. Kean nearly doubled his tally moments later, curling an effort against the post.
Meanwhile, Italy mounted pressure again in the 63rd minute when Retegui combined with Giacomo Raspadori before firing low into the near corner to make it 2-0. Raspadori then turned scorer just two minutes later, heading in Politano’s cross from seven yards.
Estonia threatened briefly, with Gianluigi Donnarumma producing a strong save to deny Rauno Sappinen, but the Azzurri remained in full control. Retegui added his second of the night in the 89th minute, peeling away from his marker to nod in Andrea Cambiaso’s cross. At the cusp of the second half, Bastoni capped the win with a glancing header from Raspadori’s delivery.
