Raspadori and Cambiaso score, but Spalletti's Italy also disappoints against Moldova

Luciano Spalletti leaves the Azzurri bench with a victory that straightens, at least partially, the situation of Italy in Group I of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. At the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia, the Azzurri beat modest Moldova 2-0 thanks to goals from Raspadori in the 40th minute and Cambiaso in the 50th minute. The good news ends here, however, because Norway wins 1-0 in Tallinn against Estonia and remains at full points at the top of the group standings with 12 points in 4 games , followed by Israel with 6 in three matches, then Italy with 3 in two games and Estonia still at 3 but with 4 matches played, Moldova at the bottom with no points in three games.

The Azzurri will return to the field on September 5 and 8 to face Estonia at home and Israel away respectively with a new coach who will be chosen in the next few days. From the first moments of the match the plot of the game is clear with Italy keeping possession of the ball and Moldova defending and trying to counterattack. In the 7th minute the Azzurri's first attempts first with Tonali and then with Raspadori, both shots rejected by the opposing defense. In the 9th minute a goal disallowed for Moldova. The guests break through from the left, ball in the middle for Nicolaescu's head who puts it in but the initial position was offside and the goal is disallowed. In the 14th minute a shot by Frattesi and a good save by Avram.

Three minutes later the Azzurri were one step away from taking the lead with a header from Ranieri on a free kick from Raspadori, the ball hitting the crossbar. Italy attacked continuously but struggled to find outlets against opponents who defended with full strength and who in the 28th minute became dangerous on the counterattack with Nicolaescu who shot wide. In the 33rd minute a double chance for the Azzurri, Raspadori's shot was blocked, Retegui's was saved by Avram. In the 37th minute a nice suggestion from Tonali for Dimarco to run in and shoot but he finished just wide. Shortly after, a nice ball from Dimarco in the middle for Retegui who sent it just wide. In the 40th minute Spalletti's boys managed to unlock the match with Raspadori who pounced on a ball that came out of the penalty area and beat Avram with a low shot. Moldova responded after just two minutes, with a shot from Reabciuk, parried by Donnarumma and then Ionita put it out from a few steps away.

Italy restarts in the second half with Barella and Orsolini replacing Ricci and Dimarco . At 4' the guests are dangerous with a header from Nicolaescu, the ball goes just wide. A minute later the Italians double their lead with Cambiaso. A good initiative from the right by Orsolini, the ball is put in the middle and ends up on the far post where Cambiaso is well positioned and beats Avram again. The Italian national team continues to push, at 10' a double conclusion by Frattesi, on both occasions the opposing defense manages to block.

In the 13th minute, a corner kick with Tonali serving Orsolini, but the Bologna striker's conclusion is well above the mark. Five minutes later, a long-range shot by Tonali, Avram gets his hands on it and punches it away. In the 26th minute, Spalletti brings on Lucca in place of Retegui. Two minutes later, the Azzurri are close to making it three, a great vertical ball for Frattesi who controls and shoots, Avram somehow saves himself. In the 32nd minute, another substitution for Italy, the author of the first goal Raspadori comes off, replaced by Maldini. In the 38th minute, Ranieri and Baboglo are on the ground after a very hard tackle. The Moldovan comes back, the Azzurri has to make way for Coppola. In the 40th minute, Frattesi is booked for a foul on Stina and shortly after Donnarumma keeps a good watch on a header by Motpan. In the final minutes, the game slows down in intensity and nothing happens until the final whistle by the Swiss Schnyder.