Italy edge Israel in nine-goal World Cup qualifier thriller
What a match it was between Israel and Italy — truly the kind of game people will be talking about for years. In Debrecen, Hungary, the two sides produced an absolute rollercoaster, and in the end, it was Italy who just managed to come out on top, winning 5–4 in one of the most dramatic qualifiers so far.
It didn’t take long for the drama to begin. Italy actually found themselves behind early after Manuel Locatelli accidentally put the ball into his own net in the 16th minute. That gave Israel the lead, and for a while, it looked like the Italians might struggle. But just before halftime, Moise Kean stepped up, slotting in an equaliser to make it 1–1 going into the break.
The second half exploded with goals. Dor Peretz restored Israel’s lead only a few minutes after the restart, but Kean responded almost instantly with his second of the night. Italy then seemed to take control: Matteo Politano scored to put them ahead for the first time, and Giacomo Raspadori added another to make it 4–2 with less than 10 minutes to go. At that point, it looked like the Italians were cruising.
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But this is where the game turned completely wild. In the 87th minute, Alessandro Bastoni scored an unfortunate own goal to give Israel hope. Then, just two minutes later, Peretz struck again, this time making it 4–4. Suddenly, Italy were staring at a devastating collapse.
And yet, right at the death, Sandro Tonali produced the decisive moment. In stoppage time, he calmly curled a low shot through a crowded penalty area, finding the bottom corner and sealing a 5–4 victory. It was heartbreak for Israel, who had fought back so bravely, but relief for Italy, who could not afford to drop more points in their qualifying campaign.
This result matters a lot for the Italians. After missing both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, pressure has been huge on them to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself. They started this campaign with a heavy defeat to Norway, and slipping again here would have raised big doubts. Instead, they leave with three vital points and stay in contention behind group leaders Norway, who remain perfect with four wins from four.
For Israel, it was a case of what might have been. They showed spirit, resilience, and attacking quality, but defensive slips and some cruel luck cost them. Both teams are level on nine points in Group I, but Italy still hold the upper hand thanks to head-to-head victories.
The journey is far from over. Italy now face Estonia, Israel again, and Moldova before what could be a decisive clash with Norway in November. For fans, this nine-goal thriller was a reminder of why World Cup qualifiers can sometimes feel like finals — unpredictable, emotional, and absolutely gripping.
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