Donnarumma 'certain' Italy will qualify for 2026 World Cup
Italy's World Cup dreams are still alive after their 3-0 win over Israel secured at least a play-off spot for next year's finals.
Gianluigi Donnarumma remains "certain" that Italy will get to the World Cup after they secured at least a play-off spot with their 3-0 win over Israel on Tuesday.
Mateo Retegui scored in each half – with a penalty and a stunning curler into the top corner – to help Italy secure three points, with Gianluca Mancini scoring a late third goal.
Retegui became the first Italy player to score two or more goals in more than one match in a single World Cup qualifying campaign (also scored a brace against Estonia), since Simone Inzaghi (three) and Alessandro Del Piero (two) ahead of the 2002 tournament.
Italy are second in Group I, three points behind Norway, who have a vastly superior goal difference, with two games left to play.
One of those matches is against Norway, who stormed to a shock 3-0 victory in their opening qualifier back in June, when Italy were still led by Luciano Spalletti.
Though that result might have put an automatic qualification spot out of Italy's reach, Donnarumma is confident they will still reach next year's finals one way or another.
"I was talking to the team earlier, you cannot get a game wrong now, or you end up straight in the play-offs," Donnarumma told Sky Sport Italia.
"Naturally, I'd love to play that [Norway game] again, as we were like a different team; we were all over the place.
"Now we have to look forward, as we have a big opportunity. I am sure this is a strong team and certain we will get to the World Cup."
Gennaro Gattuso is now the fifth Italy coach to win each of his first four matches in charge, after Azeglio Vicini, Antonio Conte, Edmondo Fabbri and Silvio Piola.
And the Azzurri have won their last five games in World Cup qualifying, their longest winning streak in the competition (since at least 2010).
One of the matches in that run saw Italy snatch a dramatic 5-4 win over Israel, and Gattuso was thrilled to see a more controlled performance by his side this time around.
"We did well, because we all remember what happened a month ago; they made us wobble," Gattuso told RAI Sport.
"I think we were more controlled. They created a few chances too, and Gigio made some big saves, but I saw the right spirit. Locatelli had a great game; the strikers struggled a little but played the way we had to.
"We had it all to lose, don't forget that, so I feel we did well."
