Italy has officially ended Israel’s World Cup dream with a commanding 3–0 win in Udine on Tuesday night, a result that secured at least a playoff berth for Gennaro Gattuso’s men.
Striker Mateo Retegui was the star of the night, scoring twice before Gianluca Mancini sealed the win in stoppage time, sending Italian fans home relieved, if not yet fully assured, of direct qualification.
With the victory, Italy climbed to 15 points in Group I, three behind leaders Norway, who remain firm favorites for the automatic qualification spot. The Azzurri now have two matches left: away to Moldova on November 13 and a potential group decider at home against Norway three days later.
Italy has endured heartbreak in recent years, having missed the last two World Cups after playoff defeats. This time, though, Gattuso’s men have ensured that the worst-case scenario is another playoff chance in March.
While the hosts wanted to keep the focus on football, the build-up to the game was once again dominated by protests against Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Italian fans showered boos during Israel’s national anthem, and clashes between police and demonstrators at a nearby pro-Palestinian march were reported. Many also boycotted the match allegedly over FIFA’s callous attitude towards Israel’s crimes, with only around 10,000 fans attending in a 25,000-seat arena.
On the pitch, however, Retegui gave Italy the lead from the penalty spot just before halftime, then doubled the advantage with a stunning solo effort in the 74th minute. Mancini’s late header capped off the night for an Italian side showing signs of renewed belief.
Many nations had threatened to boycott the FIFA World Cup if Israel reached the final round, but Italy’s win ensures the perpetrators of the genocide in Gaza do not get a chance to play on the global stage.
