Italy Need Nine-Goal Win Over Norway on UEFA Qualifying Finale

Overview

• Norway sit top on 21 points with 33 goals scored and four conceded, the best attack of the European qualifiers to date.
• Italy have 18 points and a +12 goal difference, and their 3-0 opening defeat to Norway means only a nine-goal victory would secure the group.
• Any other result sends Gennaro Gattuso’s side to March playoffs, which the coach has called the most likely outcome.
• Italy will play before roughly 60,000 at San Siro without Calafiori and Sandro Tonali, while Norway advance with a win, a draw, or even a loss by up to eight goals.
• Elsewhere, Portugal qualify with a win over Armenia as Group F is settled alongside Hungary–Ireland permutations, and Ukraine face Iceland for a playoff berth with England already through and Albania bound for the playoffs.