Home / Sports / Tonali's Last-Minute Strike Secures Italy's Thrilling World Cup Qualifier Win
Tonali's Last-Minute Strike Secures Italy's Thrilling World Cup Qualifier Win
8 Sep
Summary
- Italy defeats Israel 5-4 in dramatic World Cup qualifier
- Kosovo beats Sweden 2-0 despite Isak's return
- Switzerland and Denmark also win their matches
On September 8, 2025, Italy narrowly defeated Israel 5-4 in a dramatic World Cup qualifying match. After leading 4-2 in the final two minutes, Italy conceded two late goals to draw level at 4-4. However, Sandro Tonali's 91st-minute strike snatched victory for the Italians in the Hungarian city of Debrecen.
The match was a rollercoaster for new Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso, who acknowledged his team's defensive frailties. "We'll take the win which was crucial for us, but we're completely nuts, nuts because we conceded some absurd goals," he said.
Elsewhere, Kosovo pulled off a surprise 2-0 win over Sweden, with goals from Elvis Rexhbecaj and Vedat Muriqi. Sweden's star striker Alexander Isak made his first appearance of the season but was unable to find the net. Switzerland and Denmark also recorded comfortable victories in their respective groups.
The results leave Italy three points behind group leaders Norway, but they still have a chance of securing the sole direct qualifying spot. Kosovo, meanwhile, moved into second place in their group behind Switzerland.
