Italy thrash Estonia 5-0 in Bergamo as Gattuso era begins in style
Italy’s World Cup qualifying campaign has been given fresh life, and it came with a statement performance in Bergamo. Under their new coach Gennaro Gattuso, the Azzurri swept Estonia aside in a 5-0 victory that felt like both a relief and a declaration of intent.
For much of the first half, though, frustration could be sensed. Italy dominated possession, camped in Estonia’s half, but clear chances were not easily converted. The scoreline at the break remained 0-0, and murmurs in the stands hinted at concern. Then, in the second half, everything changed.
The breakthrough came in the 58th minute. Moise Kean, ever lively up front, found space and struck home with confidence. That lifted the weight, and suddenly Italy’s attacks flowed with more precision. Mateo Retegui, who is quickly becoming a reliable figure in front of goal, added a brace in the 69th and 89th minutes. Giacomo Raspadori also got on the scoresheet with a well-taken effort in the 71st, and as the clock ticked into added time, Alessandro Bastoni capped the night with a header from a short corner routine.
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It wasn’t just the goals that stood out—it was the manner of the performance. Italy produced 40 shots, 13 of them on target, and held over 70 percent possession. Estonia, despite their resilience, could not keep up with the relentless pressure. Their goalkeeper, Karl Hein, was kept extremely busy, making eight saves that prevented the scoreline from growing even harsher.
After the match, Bastoni admitted that something different had been demanded from the players. Gattuso, never known for subtlety, had brought determination, grit, and even what Bastoni jokingly called “a few slaps” to wake the team up. His approach seemed to work. The energy levels were higher, the pressing sharper, and the finishing more clinical.
This was Gattuso’s debut on the Italy bench, following the dismissal of Luciano Spalletti earlier in the summer. Expectations had been high, and his first test has been passed emphatically. Fans in Bergamo, more than 22,000 of them, were treated to an evening where Italy not only won but rediscovered some of their old fire.
For Estonia, it was a night to forget, though not one without effort. They showed spirit early on and even managed a couple of shots on target, but the gulf in class became clearer as minutes passed. Their defensive line was overrun, and their midfield struggled to cope with Italy’s intensity.
With this result, Italy climb to six points in Group I, still behind Norway and Israel, but momentum now seems to be back on their side. More importantly, the performance suggested a team that has shaken off early doubts. As Bastoni put it, Italy’s quality has always been there—what was missing was responsibility and hunger. Against Estonia, both were on full display.
The Gattuso era has started, and it could not have started in a better way.
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