Sandro Tonali was Italy’s unlikely hero on Tuesday night as the Newcastle United midfielder struck a stoppage-time winner to secure a chaotic 5-4 victory over Israel in a World Cup 2026 qualifier.
In front of a sparse crowd at the Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, the Azzurri looked to have thrown away a comfortable lead before Sandro Tonali speculative effort crept through a crowded penalty area to spark wild celebrations and salvage three crucial points.
Italy, who have missed the last two World Cups, appeared to be cruising when substitute Giacomo Raspadori rolled in their fourth goal in the 81st minute, just seconds after replacing the impressive Moise Kean. The Juventus forward had earlier struck twice to cancel out Manuel Locatelli’s own goal and a brilliant Dor Peretz strike, pulling Italy back from the brink on both occasions.
But the defensive frailties that have plagued Italy in recent years resurfaced in dramatic fashion. First, Alessandro Bastoni clumsily diverted the ball into his own net before Peretz rose highest to head home his second of the night, making it 4-4 and leaving Gennaro Gattuso’s men staring at another qualification setback.
Sandro Tonali, however, provided the decisive moment in stoppage time, his strike squeezing through a sea of legs to secure Italy’s second win in Group I. The result lifted them to nine points, level with Israel – who have played one game more – and kept them within touching distance of leaders Norway.
“We’ll take the win which was crucial for us, but we’re completely nuts, because we conceded some absurd goals,” Gattuso admitted after the game. “We’re too fragile, and that’s something I need to fix. But credit to the boys – every time they took a slap, they had the courage to react and fight back.”
Kean shines but Italy exposed
Despite the chaos at the back, Kean’s performance was a major positive for Italy. He thumped home two clinical finishes, showing the kind of composure that has often been missing from the Azzurri’s attack. Matteo Politano also got on the scoresheet with a superb volley, and Raspadori’s instinctive finish looked to have sealed the points before Israel’s late rally.
Still, the defensive lapses were alarming. Locatelli’s early own goal set the tone, while Bastoni’s mistake and poor marking for Peretz’s header nearly cost Italy dearly.
A politically charged backdrop
The match also unfolded against a tense political backdrop. Israel’s players wore black armbands in memory of victims of a deadly shooting in east Jerusalem earlier in the week, while a small group of Italian fans turned their backs during the Israeli national anthem and displayed banners reading “stop” in protest at the conflict in Gaza.
The atmosphere appeared to seep into Italy’s performance early on, with Israel starting brighter and more aggressive. The nominal home side had already seen a goal disallowed before Locatelli’s own goal, and Peretz’s stunning second-half strike was one of the highlights of the evening.
What’s next?
For Gattuso, who only took charge in June, the victory was a relief but also a reminder of the work ahead. Italy remain three points behind Norway in Group I, with crucial fixtures against Estonia and Israel again coming up in October.
For now, though, Tonali’s dramatic winner ensures Italy stay firmly in the hunt for direct qualification – even if their path looks anything but straightforward.
