Italy Secures 3-1 Victory Against Estonia in World Cup Qualifier

Match Overview

Italy journeyed to Tallinn to face Estonia in a crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier at the Le Coq Arena. Under the guidance of new coach Gennaro Gattuso, the Azzurri sought to maintain their perfect record, having previously secured a commanding 5-0 victory against Estonia in Bergamo. This fixture was a significant step in Italy`s campaign to qualify for the World Cup.

Full-Time Summary: Estonia 1-3 Italy

Italy emerged victorious with a 3-1 scoreline against Estonia. Goals from Moise Kean, Mateo Retegui, and Francesco Pio Esposito sealed the win. Despite their dominance, the match was not without its moments of concern, including a missed penalty and a notable error from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma that led to Estonia`s lone goal. The game marked a memorable occasion for Francesco Pio Esposito, who netted his first senior goal for the Italian national team.

Francesco Pio Esposito celebrates his first senior Italy goal against Estonia (@azzurri)

Key Match Moments

• 90` Added Time: The referee signaled for 3 minutes of additional play.
• 88` Italy Chance & Yellow Card: Federico Dimarco attempted an audacious shot directly at goal, forcing a difficult save from Hien. Shortly after, Sinyaivskyi received a yellow card for a foul on Cambiaso near the by-line.
• 87` Coach`s Intensity: Coach Gattuso was observed vehemently directing his players from the touchline, seemingly anticipating a lapse in their focus and energy.
• 84` Yellow Card (Italy): Cambiaso was booked for kicking the ball away, a decision that appeared somewhat harsh.
• 83` Substitution (Estonia): Shein was substituted, with Mustmaa entering the field.
• 77` Substitutions (Italy): Nicolò Barella and Mateo Retegui were replaced by Davide Frattesi and Bryan Cristante.
• 76` Goal! Rauno Sappinen (Estonia): A seemingly harmless cross from the left resulted in a significant error from Gianluigi Donnarumma, who dropped the ball, allowing Sappinen to easily tap it into the net from close range.
• 75` Goal! Francesco Pio Esposito (Italy): Following a low cross from Leonardo Spinazzola from the left, Esposito powerfully struck the ball first-time with the outside of his right boot, sending it into the far bottom corner from 12 yards to score his first senior international goal.
• 73` Yellow Card & Suspension (Italy): Alessandro Bastoni received a yellow card, which means he will be suspended for Italy`s next match against Israel.
• 72` Missed Opportunity (Italy): Spinazzola found himself in a clear scoring position but hesitated, allowing Peetson to successfully close down the chance.
• 71` Qualification Context: Commentary noted that Italy was likely resigned to play-offs due to Norway`s significantly superior goal difference.
• 68` Missed Opportunity (Italy): Another Italian chance went begging as Cambiaso`s shot from a promising position was scuffed directly at the goalkeeper.
• 65` Spinazzola`s Return: This match marked Leonardo Spinazzola`s first appearance for the national team since June 2023, after more than two years.
• 63` Substitutions (Estonia): Kuusk and Taam were replaced by Mets and Sappinen.
• 62` Substitutions (Italy): Leonardo Spinazzola and Andrea Cambiaso were introduced, replacing Riccardo Orsolini and Gianluca Raspadori, both of whom had been considered doubts for the starting lineup.
• 60` Italy Shot: Orsolini attempted a long-range shot that unfortunately sailed high and wide.

Player and Coach Perspectives

Francesco Pio Esposito

After scoring his inaugural senior goal for Italy at just 20 years old, Francesco Pio Esposito maintained a grounded perspective. He remarked, “It all happened so fast, but it has to be a starting point. I don’t like to rest on my laurels.”

Mateo Retegui

Despite missing a penalty during the 3-1 victory in Estonia, Mateo Retegui affirmed that the incident would not deter him from taking future penalties for Italy. He even drew a comparison to Erling Haaland`s own challenging experiences from the penalty spot.

Gennaro Gattuso

Following Italy`s 3-1 win over Estonia, coach Gennaro Gattuso reiterated his focus on creating scoring opportunities. He acknowledged that Italy`s sights are now firmly set on the 2026 World Cup play-offs, largely due to Norway`s considerable lead in goal difference within the group.

In a notable historical achievement, Gattuso became the first Italy coach since 1949 to see his team score at least three goals in his initial three matches at the helm.

2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification – Group I Standings