Italy welcomes Norway to the San Siro on Sunday for what honestly feels like a tricky night for the Azzurri as they keep chasing that playoff spot. Norway, of course, has a massive goal difference that pretty much secures their ticket unless something really odd happens.
Team news
The Italians come in with confidence after winning five qualifiers on the bounce, including a patient but deserved 2–0 win over Moldova. Late goals from Gianluca Mancini and young Francesco Pio Esposito pushed them through. Still, it’s not totally smooth sailing. Riccardo Calafiori has been ruled out for the game against Norway, as reported by Softfootball. Sandro Tonali has also returned to Newcastle to assess his injury.
Italy looks fully prepared for the game, as they posted a video of the team preparing for Sunday via their official X account.
Watch the video below.
Softfootball understands that Norway are coming in with even more fire lately. They’ve got four wins and a draw in their last five qualifiers, and their 4–1 win over Estonia showed how dangerous they still are without even hitting top gear. Erling Haaland and Alexander Sørloth both bagged a brace that night; Haaland now sits on 14 goals in the qualifiers.
Italy does hold the historical advantage with eight wins from 16 meetings, and Norway only four. But the last time they met, Norway smashed Italy 3–0 back in June, a result that kind of shocked the Italian national team.
Possible Lineups
Italy (4-3-3):
Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Bastoni, Cambiaso; Barella, Locatelli, Cristante; Kean, Retegui, Zaccagni.
Norway (4-3-3):
Nyland; Pedersen, Ajer, Østigård, Bjørkan; Berge, Ryerson, Thorsby, Nusa; Sørloth, Haaland
Softfootball’s Prediction
Italy should make a fight out of it, especially at San Siro, but Norway’s attack, and Haaland chasing that scoring record, might just give them too much to handle. The Azzurri could get chances, but Norway’s finishing tends to be a little more ruthless right now.
Italy 1–2 Norway
