Norway Dominates Italy in World Cup Qualifier, 3-0

Oslo, Norway – In a decisive World Cup qualifier match, Norway defeated Italy 3-0 at the Ullevaal Stadion on June 6, 2025. Norway’s impressive performance solidified their lead in Group I, while Italy struggled in their first match of the qualifiers.

Norway opened the scoring early with a goal from Alexander Sørloth. In the 15th minute, a clever pass from Antonio Nusa enabled Sørloth to find the net, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

As the match progressed, Italy struggled to find their rhythm. Their defense was unable to cope with Norway’s pace and precision. In the 34th minute, Nusa unleashed a powerful shot to double Norway’s lead, further complicating Italy’s hopes of a comeback.

Erling Haaland sealed the victory just before halftime, tapping in a pass from Martin Ødegaard, making it 3-0. Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma faced numerous attempts but was unable to stop Norway’s relentless attack.

Throughout the match, Italy tried to regain control but could not convert their few chances. Coach Luciano Spalletti expressed frustration over his team’s performance. “We need to improve quickly. The group stage is unforgiving, and we must bounce back,” he stated after the match.

The second half continued with Norway playing comfortably, maintaining possession and creating opportunities, while Italy looked disorganized and unable to exert pressure. Despite multiple substitutions, Italy failed to find a breakthrough.

In the closing moments, Italy managed to pressure Norway’s defense but could not convert any scoring opportunities. The final whistle confirmed Norway’s dominance with a score of 3-0, leaving Italy in a challenging position for their upcoming qualifiers.

This match marks a crucial point for both teams as Norway reinforces their position at the top of the group, while Italy needs to regroup quickly to stay in contention for the World Cup.