"Italy entered September's international window with ground to make up in Group I, trailing Norway by nine points but holding two games in hand. They responded well, brushing aside Estonia in Bergamo before heading to Hungary, where they fought through a chaotic encounter against Israel. Gattuso's side looked to have thrown away a vital win after surrendering a 4-2 lead, but Sandro Tonali's stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic victory and kept their qualification hopes alive."
"Since that wild night, Italy have stayed on course with another victory over Estonia on Saturday, despite a missed penalty from Mateo Retegui and a goalkeeping mistake from Gianluigi Donnarumma. Having lost their opening qualifier to Norway, Italy have now won four straight in the group, scoring 13 goals in their last three matches. Israel, meanwhile, sit three points behind Italy in third place, having played one game more and holding an inferior goal difference. Only a win will keep their faint play-off hopes alive."
"Moise Kean's early goal helped Italy past Estonia at the weekend, but the Fiorentina forward - who scored twice in the previous meeting with Israel - suffered an ankle injury and will miss this match. Gattuso is also forced into a defensive change as Alessandro Bastoni is suspended, paving the way for Roma's Gianluca Mancini to partner Riccardo Calafiori at centre-back."
Italy require one point in Udine to clinch a World Cup 2026 play-off spot. A month after a 5-4 win over Israel, Sandro Tonali's stoppage-time strike preserved a dramatic victory after Italy surrendered a 4-2 lead. The team recovered from an early qualifying defeat to Norway and have since won four straight group matches, scoring 13 goals in the last three. Israel sit three points behind in third with an inferior goal difference and must win to keep slim play-off hopes alive. Moise Kean is sidelined by an ankle injury and Alessandro Bastoni is suspended, prompting defensive changes and limiting attacking options.
Read at 101GREATGOALS.COM
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