""In my day, the best [group] runners-up went straight to the World Cup, now the rules have changed," Gattuso said. "To change the rules, you need to tell those who organize these tournaments. "Italy's record of six wins [in qualification]? You'd have to ask the people who make the groups and the rules. "In 1990 and 1994, there were two African [three qualified in 1994] teams, now there are nine. It's not a controversy, but there are difficulties, and we know it well.""
"The Azzurri claimed a sixth win in seven Group I games with a 2-0 victory against Moldova in Chisinau on Thursday, but with group leaders Norway sitting on top with seven straight wins -- including a 3-0 victory against the Italians -- their vastly superior goal difference means Italy must beat Stale Solbakken's side by nine clear goals in Milan to qualify for the 2026 World Cup."
Italy must beat Norway by nine goals in their final qualifier to avoid the European playoffs and secure direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Italy recorded a 2-0 win over Moldova to reach six wins in seven Group I matches, while Norway sit top with seven straight wins and a vastly superior goal difference, including a 3-0 win over Italy. Italy missed the 2018 and 2022 World Cups after playoff defeats. Concerns were raised about the fairness of the European qualification system, with comparisons to South America's allocation and recent increases in African berths.
Read at ESPN.com
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