Italy kept their hopes alive of ending a 12-year absence from the World Cup by defeating Northern Ireland 2-0 on Thursday in Bergamo, securing a place in the play-off final. Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean scored crucial second-half goals that decided a tightly contested match, setting up an away clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday.
Tonali opened the scoring with a powerful strike in the 56th minute, followed by Kean’s composed finish ten minutes before the final whistle. These moments of quality proved decisive in a game of immense importance for the four-time world champions. Italy’s coach, Gennaro Gattuso, described the match as the most significant of his coaching career, with tension evident both on the field and in the stands.
The Azzurri, who missed the last two World Cups in Russia and Qatar, faced a resilient and youthful Northern Ireland side. The visitors were without key defenders Liverpool’s Conor Bradley, who also serves as captain, and Sunderland’s Dan Ballard. Despite limited chances, Italy capitalized on their opportunities. Tonali reflected on the match, noting the early second-half tension but said the team felt more liberated after taking the lead.
Looking ahead, Gattuso emphasized the need for a sharper performance against Bosnia if Italy are to qualify for the World Cup finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer. He acknowledged the difficulty of the match and stressed the importance of recuperation before the next challenge.
Northern Ireland, who have not qualified for the World Cup since 1986, fought valiantly throughout the game. Their captain, Trai Hume, praised the team’s overall performance despite the disappointment of defeat, highlighting the valuable experience gained by the young squad.
The first half was largely uneventful, featuring only two shots on target as Northern Ireland’s defensive strategy, led by manager Michael O’Neill, effectively stifled Italy’s attack. Goalkeeper Pierce Charles deliberately slowed the game during goal kicks, while the visitors’ five-man defense contained Italy’s forwards Mateo Retegui and Kean. Federico Dimarco’s early shot was saved by Charles, and other Italian attempts, including Kean’s miss in the 38th minute and Alessandro Bastoni’s header, failed to break the deadlock.
Retegui squandered a prime chance shortly after halftime when a misplaced pass put him through on goal, but his error was quickly overshadowed by Tonali’s unstoppable finish following a weak clearance by Isaac Price. The goal sparked relief among the home crowd, but Italy continued to struggle against Northern Ireland’s disciplined defense, composed mainly of lower-league players.
Kean, arguably Italy’s standout player, secured the victory by skillfully cutting inside Ruairi McConville and calmly slotting the ball in off the post. This goal confirmed Italy’s advancement and set the stage for their decisive encounter with Bosnia, determining their World Cup fate.
