Spalletti Bows Out with Win, but Italy Still Struggles in World Cup Qualifier

Luciano Spalletti’s brief tenure as Italy manager came to a close with a 2-0 win over Moldova on Monday, a result that provided some relief but little reassurance for the Azzurri’s World Cup hopes. Despite the home victory in Reggio Emilia, Italy’s uninspiring performance laid bare the issues that led to Spalletti’s self-announced departure just a day earlier.

Italy entered the match under pressure after a dismal 3-0 defeat to Norway in their Group I opener. Although the victory over Moldova earned them their first points of the campaign, the nature of the performance did little to silence critics. “We struggled again tonight,” Spalletti admitted to Rai Sport. “When you are the coach of the national team you cannot have alibis because he chooses the players and if they don’t do well he can change them.”

The match began tentatively, with Italy’s slow and predictable build-up failing to unsettle a resolute Moldovan defense. A brief scare arrived when Ion Nicolaescu found the net for the visitors, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside. Italy’s first real threat came from debutant Luca Ranieri, whose header rattled the crossbar.

Five minutes before halftime, Italy finally broke through. A poor Moldovan clearance fell to Giacomo Raspadori, who lashed a first-time shot into the bottom corner. Moldova nearly equalised when Oleg Reabciuk’s powerful strike was pushed away by Gianluigi Donnarumma, followed by two more close attempts that highlighted Italy’s ongoing defensive fragility.

The hosts doubled their lead early in the second half. Substitute Riccardo Orsolini delivered a low cross, flicked on by Davide Frattesi, allowing Andrea Cambiaso to smash the ball past Moldovan keeper Cristian Avram. Despite the cushion, Italy failed to control the game, with Frattesi later wasting a clear chance and Moldova continuing to find space in Italy’s half.

Spalletti, whose name was booed by sections of the crowd before kickoff, took the touchline for one last time in front of a less-than-full Stadio Città del Tricolore. His farewell came not with applause but with a performance that reinforced Italy’s need for a reset.

With Norway leading Group I on 12 points and Israel also ahead in the standings, Italy faces an uphill battle. The federation is expected to move quickly in appointing a successor, with Claudio Ranieri reportedly in line to take over. Fans will hope a change in leadership can restore the fire to a team that has so far lacked both spark and direction.