Locatelli condemns ´fragile´ Italy after second-half collapse - Soccer News

[ad_1] Manuel Locatelli slammed Italy’s “fragile” efficiency in opposition to Norway, noting that they let themselves down by lacking out on automated World Cup qualification.

Italy suffered a 4-1 defeat to Norway in Milan, with Antonio Nusa, Erling Haaland and Jorgen Strand Larsen all scoring within the second half for the guests after Francisco Pio Esposito’s early opener.

As such, the Azzurri completed second in Group I, six factors behind Norway, who had an ideal report, which means they are going to go into the World Cup qualification play-offs for the third consecutive time.

Italy had dominated the primary half, racking up seven photographs value 0.6 anticipated objectives, although their opener got here from what was their solely try on course. Norway had one off-target effort.

However after the break, Gennaro Gattuso’s facet had eight photographs to Norway’s 12, and regardless of getting three of these on course, they might not discover a well past Orjan Nyland once more.

“Our qualification was compromised in Oslo [a 3-0 defeat to Norway in the first qualifier], however we should always’ve achieved higher [on Sunday],” Locatelli advised Sky Sport Italia.

“We tried to attain the second objective, however then had been fragile, and this should not occur once more. We’ve received to see the place we received it flawed, as, in sure moments, we have to keep extra united.

“This should not be our stage. We are able to and should do higher.

“Now we’ll watch for the draw and hope to reach in March with a really completely different perspective.

“Norway are of a really excessive stage, however we nonetheless ought to’ve achieved higher. Now we have to take duty and do higher in March.”

This defeat was Gattuso’s first since taking up in June. He had gained all 5 of his matches beforehand.

Italy have failed to achieve the World Cup in each of their earlier play-off makes an attempt, shedding to Sweden in 2018 earlier than North Macedonia surprised them in 2022.

A second-place end in Group I at all times regarded doubtless – they wanted a nine-goal swing to high the group forward of Norway – however Gattuso apologised to the followers for his or her second-half collapse.

“We initially should apologise to our followers, as a result of 4-1 is a heavy outcome,” Gattuso advised RAI Sport.

“It’s a pity, as the primary half was superb, we had been an actual group, however the largest disappointment is that the second half was lower than these requirements.

“Congratulations to Norway, however we begin once more from the primary half, the place we did what we had been meant to do, then we struggled so much after the break.

“We misplaced our form, as within the first half we had been urgent in the proper means, however then we began to lose the ball a bit too cheaply, give Norway some house to play in. We misplaced the ball, misplaced passes and received pushed again. That’s what occurred.”