The 'Azzurra' won 5-4 in Hungary with a goal from Tonali in 91 ', in a duel full of defensive errors and suffering that keeps her alive in the classification towards the 2026 World Cup.
Photo: AFP Agency
Summary and Fast Informame
Listen to this article
Audio generated with Google
Walking on the wire throughout the game, unable to clearly impose itself on a lower and surviving rival in a surrealist match, Italy won on Monday to keep their options alive to go to the 2026 World Cup with an agonizing victory against Israel (4-5) that left the deficiencies of a very limited team again.
The forceful win against Estonia (5-0) of a few days ago, a mirage. Israel, with some pressure, with a little intention and with push, put the 'Azzurra' against the ropes, on the edge of the disaster in Hungary, neutral headquarters in which Israel disputes its games.
A double of Moise Kean, a triplet of assists from the Italo-Argentine Mateo Retegui, and the many of Politano, Raspradori and the decisive of Tonali, in the 91 Gattuso, which, yes, recovered a competitive spirit that just a few months ago seemed dead.
The classification marked the Italian road map. Forced to win, she appeared with the variation of Gattuso, who returned to the defense of three plants and repeated with Retegui and Kean above. The striker couple is the most positive of an Italy who has a hard time imposed even rivals as a lower entity.
And so it was against Israel, especially in the first half. The pressure above completely mismatched the output of 'Azzurra' ball, dizzy in the initial minutes, saved by the referee in somewhat initial Israeli canceled due to foul to Donnarumma and convicted after a goal in the own goal of Locatelli in the 16th minute.
He did it perfect Israel and, in an attempt to save the ball, Locatelli ended up pushing it inside. Without knowing it, at that time the madness began in Hungary with a happy Italian ending.
It took Italy to react, but got the most difficult, tie in a match that had not controlled just before the break through Moise Kean, first served from the great performance of Retegui.
It was little because in the 52nd minute, Peretz put 2-1 on the scoreboard with a left-footed shot by the squad. Second Mazazo and Second Transalpina reaction. This time immediate. Identical protagonists. Retegui assistance, Kean's goal. Savers again from Italy, live at that time to go to the World Cup.
Israel collapsed and Italy knew how to take advantage of it. Lightning play. Intelligence of Di Lorenzo drawing fast, third assistance from Retegui, Heel, and Golazo de Politano to sign the comeback. The 'Azzurra' had in his hand, which distanced himself in 81 with the 2-4 of a very efficient scraper, always complies with the 'Nazionale'.
It seemed that the madness had ended with that goal, which Italy had tamed delirium. There were still 9 minutes of regulatory time and everything that could go wrong for the Italians went wrong. Second goal in the game, from Bastoni, in an attempt to clear a side center. And Israel believed in victory.
Italy sank, Donnarumma saved an poisoned center, Locatelli saved without goalkeeper in the next play. The tragedy was around the city's goal area and, in a stopped ball play, in the 89th minute, Peretz put the tie to four.
With 7 minutes of addition, Italy did not lower his arms. He threw the character he lacked a few months ago and, in a shot by Tonali that nobody played in an area full of players, the decisive goal of a surreal game arrived.
Italy survived, almost without knowing how. He pulled when he ran out of football. It is still alive to go to the 2026 World Cup. But Gattuso has a lot of work ahead.
🚴🏻⚽🏀 The latest in sports?: Everything you should know about world sport is in the spectator
