"I was talking to the team earlier, you cannot get a game wrong now, or you end up straight in the play-offs. Naturally, I'd love to play that [Norway game] again, as we were like a different team; we were all over the place. Now we have to look forward, as we have a big opportunity. I am sure this is a strong team and certain we will get to the World Cup."
"Retegui became the first Italy player to score two or more goals in more than one match in a single World Cup qualifying campaign (also scored a brace against Estonia), since Simone Inzaghi (three) and Alessandro Del Piero (two) ahead of the 2002 tournament."
Italy secured at least a play-off spot with a 3-0 win over Israel, with Mateo Retegui scoring a penalty and a curling strike and Gianluca Mancini adding a late third. Retegui became the first Italy player to score two or more goals in more than one match in a single World Cup qualifying campaign since Simone Inzaghi and Alessandro Del Piero before the 2002 tournament. Italy lie second in Group I, three points behind Norway with a vastly superior goal difference, and face two remaining matches including a meeting with Norway. Gianluigi Donnarumma expressed certainty that Italy will reach the World Cup, while Gennaro Gattuso has won each of his first four matches in charge and the Azzurri have won five consecutive World Cup qualifying games.
Read at Soccer News
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