Gianluigi Donnarumma implores Italy to keep their heads high after a devastating 4-1 loss to Norway, forcing them into a World Cup playoff.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma urged Italy to keep their heads up following a 4-1 hammering at the hands of Norway on Sunday, according to a report from FotMob.
The defeat in Milan confirmed the Azzurri must now navigate a play-off round in order to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Italy’s hopes of automatic qualification from Group I were dashed after they capitulated in the second half at the San Siro, despite taking an early lead.
The collapse began when Antonio Nusa equalised, followed swiftly by Erling Haaland scoring twice in the space of 90 seconds, with Jorgen Strand Larsen rounding off Norway’s emphatic comeback.
Speaking to RAI Sport, Donnarumma acknowledged the team’s failure to maintain intensity. “It was a totally different match in the first half, we never let them out of their own half,” he said.
He insisted the performance must last longer, adding, “We’ve got to do that for 95 minutes rather than 45, that is for sure.”
Coach Genaro Gattuso suggested his team were “fragile,” a point Donnarumma conceded: “It is not possible that you just fall apart, totally lose confidence, totally lose control of the game. That is not acceptable.”
The goalkeeper stressed the importance of recovering before the critical play-off fixtures in March. He concluded:
“It’s a painful defeat, but we’ve got to lift our heads up, because it is all at stake in March with those two games.
We must rediscover our confidence and self-belief, and I am sure that we will do it.” Italy have now failed to qualify for the last two World Cups, having lost in the play-offs on each occasion.