Italy give sacked manager Spalletti a winning send-off

Belgium held off a battling Wales and Italy gave sacked coach Luciano Spalletti a winning send-off in World Cup qualifying on Monday. 

Haaland helps Norway win

Elsewhere Manchester City star Erling Haaland’s goal lifted Norway past Estonia, Luka Modric was among the scorers in Croatia’s 5-1 rout of the Czech Republic, and the Faroes Islands left it late to down Gibraltar 2-1. 

Luciano Spalletti

Giacomo Raspadori and Andrea Cambiaso scored in each half as Italy beat Moldova 2-0 to inject a smidgeon of pride back in the Azzurri camp after last week’s 3-0 thrashing by Norway which cost Spalletti his job. 

The Italians trail Norway by nine points in European qualifying group I by nine points and are at risk of missing out on a third straight World Cup. Even though they have played two games less their ticket to the United States, Canada and Mexico next year is far from certain. 

Only top spot in each group guarantees automatic qualification with Italy’s best hopes appearing to rest on finishing second and reaching the Playoffs. 
“When you’re the national team coach you have no excuses, it’s you who selects the squad,” said Spalletti to public broadcaster Rai. “It’s the coach who has to make the difference and unfortunately I wasn’t able to do that.”

Belgium beat Wales 4-3

Over in Brussels, Belgium raced to a three-goal lead over Wales courtesy of Romelu Lukaku, Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku inside half an hour. Wales rallied through a Harry Wilson penalty, Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson. But De Bruyne rode to his nation’s rescue by steering in Tielemans’s perfect cross in (88th minute). 

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