Italy’s national football team has taken a critical step forward in their quest for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, overcoming Estonia 3-1 in a spirited qualifier on October 12, 2025, in Tallinn. With Gennaro Gattuso at the helm, the Azzurri not only secured a vital three points but also showcased emerging talents and a renewed sense of purpose that’s been sorely missed in recent years.
Right from the opening whistle, Italy looked determined to seize control. The breakthrough came in just the fifth minute, when Riccardo Calafiori set up Federico Dimarco down the left. Dimarco’s pinpoint cross found Moise Kean, who deftly feinted past Estonia’s Kuusk and coolly slotted home with his right foot. It was Kean’s fourth goal in these qualifiers—a testament to his growing influence in the squad. However, the early joy was soon tempered, as Kean was forced off with a sprained ankle, leaving fans and coach Gattuso hoping for a swift recovery.
Kean’s injury opened the door for Francesco Pio Esposito, who entered the fray and immediately injected energy into the Azzurri attack. Esposito’s movement and work rate created space for his teammates, particularly Mateo Retegui. In the 30th minute, Retegui earned a penalty, only to see Estonia’s Hein deny him with a save that clattered off the post. Undeterred, Retegui found redemption in the 38th minute, finishing off a slick team move initiated by Riccardo Orsolini to double Italy’s lead. The first half ended with the visitors comfortably ahead, their sights set firmly on the playoffs.
Estonia tried to regroup after the break, but Italy’s grip on the contest never loosened. In the 57th minute, Giacomo Raspadori nearly made it 3-0, but Hein’s reflexes kept Estonia in the game. Gattuso then made a tactical switch, bringing on Leonardo Spinazzola for Raspadori. The move paid immediate dividends: in the 74th minute, Spinazzola surged down the left and delivered a perfect ball for Esposito, who smashed home his first senior international goal with a crisp right-footed finish. The celebration was palpable—Esposito’s rise has been one of the feel-good stories of this qualifying campaign.
Yet, as is often the case in football, joy was quickly followed by a moment of anxiety. Just two minutes after Italy’s third, Gianluigi Donnarumma mishandled a routine cross, allowing Estonia’s Sappinen to tap in from close range. The error was a bitter pill, but it did little to dampen the overall sense of progress for Gattuso’s men.
With this result, Italy solidified their grip on second place in Group I. Norway, boasting a daunting +26 goal difference, remain out of reach at the top, but the Azzurri’s focus is now squarely on the playoffs. Their next challenge comes against Israel in Udine, a match that could seal their spot in the postseason. As Gattuso put it, “By beating Israel, we’ll be more confident heading into the playoffs. Our mission is to grow game after game by staying together and working hard. We don’t think about Norway or Israel because we know what we have to do. When I see this spirit, I can make mistakes, but I’m very happy.”
Gattuso’s tenure has already brought three consecutive victories, and perhaps more importantly, a return to the values that once made Italian football the envy of the world. Speaking to RAI Sport before the Estonia clash, Gattuso lamented the team’s recent departure from its defensive roots: “Italian football was a home of excellence for goalkeepers, defending and our tactics, so by trying to do something different, I think we lost some of that strength. We must get back to doing the things we have stopped doing. We used to play as a unit, but now in chasing individuals around and going man for man, we run more risks. We’ve got to get back to the strengths of the Azzurri, to that Italian defensive block that everyone in the world was wary of.”
To that end, Gattuso has experimented with a 4-4-2 formation, though with attacking flair courtesy of players like Orsolini and Raspadori, it often morphs into a 4-2-4. This balance between tradition and innovation has begun to bear fruit, as seen in the team’s recent performances.
One of the standout stories from this international break has been the emergence of Pio Esposito. The Inter striker’s humility, discipline, and tireless work ethic have earned high praise from his coach. “Pio deserves everything. He goes for every ball as if it were the ball of his life. He defends and runs like a midfielder, he’s got incredible quality,” Gattuso told Sky Sport. “His main gift is humility — people can’t help but like him. He thinks, trains, and behaves like a thirty-year-old. That’s something special.”
Esposito’s breakthrough is a timely boost for an Italy side that has at times struggled for attacking inspiration. With Kean’s status uncertain, Esposito’s readiness to step up could prove crucial as the campaign reaches its climax. Gattuso, ever the motivator, added, “Despite only being in his second game, he came on really well. He deserves everything because he attacks every ball, defends and runs like a midfielder, he’s a guy who doesn’t lose his composure…”
Off the pitch, the conversation around the national team’s future continues. Federico Bernardeschi, a hero of the EURO 2020 final, has expressed his desire to return to the squad alongside his close friend Federico Chiesa. Bernardeschi, now plying his trade with Toronto FC in MLS, hasn’t featured for Italy since 2022 but remains hopeful: “I really love Fede like a brother. He deserves it, he has deserved it and will deserve it again. We hope to be there together. Neither of us has gone to one yet, it would be nice to go together, for everyone, also for Italy.”
Chiesa, too, has been absent from the national setup since EURO 2024, but both players’ ambitions underscore the depth of talent available to Gattuso as he shapes his squad for the challenges ahead.
As the dust settles in Tallinn, Italy’s path to the World Cup remains fraught with obstacles, but there’s a renewed sense of optimism. With a blend of experienced heads and exciting new faces, the Azzurri look ready to fight for their place among football’s elite once more. Their next test against Israel could be decisive—but for now, Gattuso and his men can savor a job well done, knowing the journey is far from over.