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WEDNESDAY | SEPT 10, 2025

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Italy’s Riccardo Orsolini (left) and Israel’s Eliel Peretz vie for the ball during their 2026 World Cup qualifiers Europe zone Group I match yesterday. – AFPPIC

India favourites

- Story on page 27

Italy keep World Cup hopes ticking over with crazy 5-4 win over Israel Azzurri avoid disaster

Isak’s Sweden in shock defeat

I TALY prevailed in a whirlwind game to beat Israel 5-4 in their World Cup qualifier in Hungary yesterday after the Italians scored two own goals, twice came from behind and conceded a late equaliser but scrambled a win to stay in the hunt in Group I. Italy had won their first game under new manager Gennaro Gattuso in a 5-0 home win over Estonia on Saturday and, while it was far from a five-star perform ance on neutral ground away to Israel they somehow came away with the three points. “We’re crazy – we conceded some absurd goals but we will hold onto this win,” Gattuso told Italian broadcaster Rai . “Our opponents surprised us a bit, they were marking man-to-man. Today our legs weren’t at their best but that’s normal, it’s always like this in the second match, though we need to improve. “We’re too fragile, we give away goals too easily. The boys know it but the prob lem is mine, not theirs,” Gattuso said. “To play as a unit, we need to improve in certain areas. My staff and I need to improve as soon as possible, I’m not criticising my players.” There was at least a different spirit to the team than in the 3-0 loss to Norway which cost Spalletti his job. “Credit to the team, because we had the strength to react to every blow we took, but we can’t allow easy goals like we did today,” Gattuso said. “Even though it wasn’t a great day, there was a desire to fight back and that’s

- Story on page 29

the decisive pass and Kean smashed a half-volley from the edge of the area. “I get on well with Retegui,” Kean told Rai . “We’re slowly beginning to under stand each other and there’s an under standing between us.” Retegui was the provider yet again when Italy went ahead for the first time in the 58th minute, as Matteo Politano poked home his deft back-heeled pass in the box. Italy looked to have sealed the win when substitute Giacomo Raspadori netted with nine minutes remaining before Alessandro Bastoni’s own goal in the 87th handed Israel a lifeline. Israel thought they had snatched a draw and dented Italy’s qualifying hopes when Dor Peretz headed his second past Donnarumma from close range in the 89th but the drama was not over yet. The game had just entered added time when Sandro Tonali took an oppor tunistic shot from outside the area which flew past the keeper and Italy somehow kept their World Cup qualifying hopes ticking over. “Believing until the end is the beauty of football. Tonight we succeeded and we brought home the result,” Kean added. “We believe in qualification. We’re a very good team and we have an excellent coach. We can do a lot.” – Reuters

the most important thing. “I’ll thank the team in the locker room, but if we want to achieve some thing important, we have to grow.” Italy’s victory puts them to second in the group on nine points, ahead of Israel on goal difference with a game in hand, but three points off Norway who have also played four matches. The top team in each group qualify directly for next year’s finals with the runners-up going into the playoffs. “It was a crazy game,” Italy midfielder Manuel Locatelli told Rai . “The five goals scored should be emphasised, but we also conceded four and so there will be analysis to be done.” Israel took a deserved lead in the 16th minute when Eli Dasa passed to Dan Biton whose pull back from the byline was turned into his own goal by Locatelli. Italy found the equaliser five minutes from the break. Mateo Retegui laid a pass off to strike partner Moise Kean whose powerful low shot from outside the box found the bottom corner. Israel took the lead again in the 52nd minute, Manor Solomon laying off a pass which Dor Peretz whipped first time beyond the reach of Gianluigi Donnarumma. Italy were almost immediately back on terms, with Kean once more to the rescue two minutes later. Retegui made

Cklamovski lauds Harimau Malaya

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