In a night that perfectly encapsulated the unpredictable drama of international football, Norway delivered a resounding 5-0 blow to Israel in their 2026 World Cup qualifier. At the heart of this storm was Erling Haaland, the prolific Norwegian striker, whose hat-trick not only sealed a crucial victory for his nation but also effectively rewrote Italy`s 2026 World Cup qualification script, likely consigning the Azzurri to the perilous play-off rounds.
Haaland: The Prodigal Penalty Taker and Relentless Scorer
Before the fireworks, there was a momentary flicker of doubt, a scene almost too cinematic to be believed. Within the first six minutes, Haaland stepped up to the penalty spot not once, but twice. Both attempts, including a retaken effort after VAR intervention for the goalkeeper moving off his line, were thwarted by a determined Daniel Peretz of Israel. For a striker who seems to convert goals almost as a reflex, these misses were a rare, almost baffling spectacle. One might have thought the football gods were simply toying with him, perhaps testing his resolve.
However, the script quickly reverted to type. What are a couple of missed penalties when you can simply score three from open play? Haaland, the man-machine of goals, soon found his rhythm, proving that even a momentary glitch in his penalty-taking matrix wouldn`t derail his relentless pursuit of the net.
Norway`s Clinical Assault and Israel`s Unfortunate Contributions
The initial breakthrough, ironically, came not from a Haaland boot but from an Israeli defender. In the 18th minute, Anan Khalaili inadvertently diverted an Alexander Sorloth cross into his own net, gifting Norway the lead. This early advantage seemed to settle Norway`s nerves. Haaland, seemingly unfazed by his earlier penalty woes, then unleashed a delicate angled drive in the 27th minute, expertly assisted by Sorloth, to double the lead.
Before Israel could even fully process the second, a third arrived barely a minute later. In a bizarre turn of events, Daniel Peretz, Israel`s goalkeeper, kicked the ball against his teammate Idan Nachmias while attempting a clearance. The ball ricocheted off Nachmias and into the net for another own goal, adding insult to injury as Nachmias painfully collided with the goalpost.
The Hat-trick That Reshaped a Campaign
Haaland completed his personal triumph in the second half. He doubled his tally in the 63rd minute with a powerful header from eight yards out, followed by another header in the 72nd minute, this time from the tightest of angles at the far post. Both goals were exquisitely set up by the impressive young winger Antonio Nusa, highlighting Norway`s potent attacking synergy.
This treble pushed the Manchester City striker`s international tally to an astonishing 51 goals in just 46 caps for Norway—a statistic that defies belief and redefines `prolific`. His performance cemented his status as one of football`s most unstoppable forces, and more importantly for Norway, it solidified their position atop Group I.
Italy`s World Cup Dream: A Step Further Away
For Italy, the ramifications of Norway`s dominant display were immediate and grim. The 5-0 victory significantly inflated Norway`s goal difference, increasing it to +21. With Italy currently on +5, this colossal gap, coupled with Norway`s superior points tally (15 vs 9), makes the already slim chances of Italy securing direct qualification virtually theoretical. Goal difference serves as the primary tie-breaker for teams level on points, a technical detail that now weighs heavily on the Azzurri`s ambitions.
Having previously stumbled with a 3-0 loss to Norway in Oslo, Italy now stares almost certainly at the dreaded World Cup play-offs. This scenario evokes a painful sense of déjà vu, recalling their failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, which also involved a disappointing exit in the play-offs. The prospect of facing another high-stakes, single-elimination path to the biggest stage will undoubtedly fuel anxiety among Italian fans and players alike.
The Road Ahead
As Norway celebrates a commanding performance and the seemingly unstoppable force of Erling Haaland, Italy must regroup. Their upcoming clash against Israel in Udine will be important for points, but the direct qualification spot appears to be slipping away. The strategic importance of every goal, every point, now amplifies as the Azzurri prepare for a challenging play-off gauntlet.
In football, as in life, sometimes one team`s triumph is another`s bitter pill, perfectly delivered by a Norwegian cyborg who simply refuses to be denied. The World Cup qualifying journey is rarely straightforward, and for Italy, it just got a whole lot more complicated.
