A 5-0 defeat leaves Italy in despair! Norway leads by 6 points and +19 goal difference, on the verge of qualifying for the World Cup

On October 12th Beijing time, the seventh round of Group I in the European World Cup qualifiers wrapped up. Italy secured a 3-1 win over Estonia, and Norway crushed Israel 5-0. This updated the standings with Norway unbeaten in six matches at the top, Italy in second with four wins, Israel third, Estonia fourth, and Moldova suffering their fifth consecutive defeat at the bottom!

Looking at the group before the matches, it was clear that Norway and Italy were the main contenders, both strong teams competing for the top spot, while Israel, Estonia, and Moldova were seen as underdogs. In their first direct encounter, Norway decisively beat Italy 3-0, securing these crucial three points. Currently, Norway remains undefeated in first place, while Italy sits second after their loss!

Today marked the seventh round. Italy faced Estonia and dominated the match, scoring three early goals to seal the win. Later, a lapse in concentration led to the goalkeeper gifting a goal to Estonia, preventing a clean sheet, which was unfortunate. Nevertheless, Italy won and achieved their fourth consecutive victory, closing the gap on Norway, though their goal difference is still far behind!

Norway took on Israel and delivered a heavy blow, thoroughly outplaying their opponents. Despite Erling Haaland missing a penalty early on, he fought back to complete a hat-trick, helping Norway to a 5-0 shutout of Israel. This victory secured a double win over their rivals and extended Norway’s winning streak to six matches, firmly holding the top position!

At present, Norway has played one more match and leads by 6 points with a +19 goal difference, practically securing their spot in the World Cup. With two games left, a home match against Estonia should be an easy win, potentially extending their streak to seven wins. Even if they lose the final away match against Italy, Norway will advance due to their overwhelming goal difference. Meanwhile, Italy will likely face the playoffs for the third consecutive time, which is quite embarrassing. It’s fair to say Italy is currently in a rather desperate situation!

Written by / Sports Novel

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