Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy kicked off their World Cup qualifying campaign with a dominant 5-0 victory over Estonia. After a frustrating first half, Italy unleashed a second-half goalscoring spree, with Mateo Retegui leading the charge with two goals. Moise Kean, Giacomo Raspadori, and Alessandro Bastoni also found the net, securing a comfortable win for the Azzurri. The victory marks a significant improvement after a previous defeat to Norway and provides a platform for Gattuso to build upon as they chase a spot in the World Cup.
Gennaro Gattuso's reign as Italy head coach began with a resounding statement as the Azzurri dismantled Estonia 5-0 in a World Cup qualifying match held in Bergamo. The convincing victory, fueled by a dominant second-half performance, provides a much-needed boost to Italy's World Cup aspirations.
The match, played on Friday, saw Italy unleash their attacking prowess after a frustrating first half. Mateo Retegui emerged as the star of the show, bagging a brace, while Moise Kean, Giacomo Raspadori, and Alessandro Bastoni also etched their names on the scoresheet. Despite the emphatic win, Italy remains six points behind Group I leaders Norway, albeit with a game in hand, setting the stage for a potentially thrilling qualification battle.
The first half was a story of Italian dominance that failed to translate into goals. The Azzurri peppered the Estonian goal with 17 shots while the visitors were unable to muster any attempts. However, wasteful finishing plagued their efforts. Moise Kean, in particular, will rue his missed opportunity, blazing a half-volley over the bar from a promising 10 yards out.
Mateo Politano came close with a powerful header, and later, his cross found Retegui, whose header was brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by Estonian goalkeeper Karl Hein. Sandro Tonali's sweetly-struck volley was also thwarted by Hein, adding to Italy's growing frustration.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the second half when Kean atoned for his earlier miss, nodding in the opener after Retegui flicked on Federico Dimarco's pinpoint cross. Kean almost doubled his tally moments later, bending another effort against the post just before the hour mark. The Fiorentina man was a constant menace to the Estonian defense.
Mattia Zaccagni was next to be denied by the inspired Hein, who pulled off a remarkable save from a point-blank header. Zaccagni then curled a shot narrowly wide of the post, further highlighting Italy's relentless pressure. The second goal eventually came in the 69th minute when Retegui unleashed a powerful drive into the bottom left corner from the edge of the penalty area, giving Italy a deserved two-goal cushion.
Any hopes of an Estonian comeback were extinguished shortly after when Raspadori, with a diving header, met Politano's right-wing cross, guiding the ball into the left-hand side of the net. The goal showcased Italy's attacking fluidity and their determination to put the game beyond doubt.
Retegui completed his brace with a glancing header from Andrea Cambiaso's cross from the left, further cementing his status as a key player for Gattuso's side. Alessandro Bastoni then capped off the rout with a thumping header in injury time, sending a clear message to their World Cup qualifying rivals.
Adding insult to injury, here's the Italy's tweet after their big win:
A sensational second-half display #ITAEST #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/CxzRch3aTU
— Italy (@Azzurri_En) September 5, 2025
Data Debrief: Five-star Italy bounce back
Italy's dominant performance was a welcome response to their previous 3-0 defeat to Norway, which ultimately led to the departure of Luciano Spalletti. Gattuso, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, has clearly instilled a new sense of purpose and attacking intent in the team. The five goals scored marked the first time the Azzurri have managed at least three goals in a game since September 2021 against Lithuania.
The statistics further highlighted Italy's superiority, with an expected goals (xG) tally of 4.43 compared to Estonia's meager 0.41. Retegui's seven shots, two of which were on target, demonstrated his clinical finishing and his growing importance to the Italian attack. This was a crucial win in World Cup qualifying, and will have the fans excited about the future of the team.