What was supposed to be a straightforward World Cup qualifier for Italy in Debrecen, Hungary, turned into the kind of match that makes you question the wisdom of watching football for your cardiovascular health. Sandro Tonali scored a stoppage-time winner as Italy won a chaotic nine-goal thriller against Israel 5-4 and dodged another big setback in their bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. This wasn’t just a football match; it was a masterclass in how to give supporters premature grey hair and an accelerated heart rate that would worry fitness trackers worldwide.
The match was played at Nagyerdei Stadion in Hungary rather than in Israel, adding another layer of complexity to an already charged encounter. Gennaro Gattuso had clarified before the match that he only meant his team was ‘unlucky’ to face a strong side like Israel, not making any political statement, though after 90 minutes of this chaos, he probably felt genuinely unlucky for entirely different reasons. The neutral venue did nothing to neutralize the intensity, as both teams served up a buffet of goals that would have left even the most experienced football gourmets feeling slightly overwhelmed.
Italian Resurrection: From Crisis to (Near) Catastrophe
Italy entered this match in desperate need of points after their disastrous start to the qualifying campaign. A 3-0 loss to Norway in June left Italy’s qualification campaign in trouble, and the specter of missing a third consecutive World Cup loomed large over the Azzurri. Having failed to qualify for both Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, despite winning Euro 2020, Italy’s relationship with World Cup qualification has become more complicated than a Christopher Nolan film plot.
The early signs weren’t promising as Manuel Locatelli’s own goal put Italy behind in the 16th minute, triggering flashbacks to previous qualification failures. However, Moise Kean emerged as the unlikely hero, scoring twice in the first half and early second half to keep Italy’s hopes alive. Moise Kean was named Football Italia’s Man of the Match in Italy’s 5-4 win over Israel, proving that sometimes the best way to silence critics is to score goals when it matters most. The former Everton striker’s performance was a reminder that football careers, like Italian qualification campaigns, can take unexpected turns when you least expect them.
Israeli Resilience: The Art of Never Giving Up
Israel’s performance in this match deserves its own standing ovation, even in defeat. Led by Dor Peretz’s brace and showing remarkable fighting spirit, they twice took the lead and looked capable of causing one of the biggest upsets in World Cup qualifying history. The result dents Israel’s prospects of qualifying for next year’s World Cup, as Israel now sits third in qualifying Group I, behind group leaders Norway and Italy, but their performance suggested they’re far from finished in this campaign.
The way Israel responded to going 4-2 down showed character that would make Hollywood screenwriters weep with joy. Two goals in the space of three minutes, including another Italian own goal from Alessandro Bastoni, brought the score to 4-4 and had Gattuso probably questioning his life choices on the sideline. Peretz’s second goal in the 89th minute looked like it might secure a famous point for Israel, proving that in football, as in life, it’s not over until someone in black blows a whistle and everyone stops running around in circles.
Tonali’s Late Show: When Heroes Wear Number 8
Just when it seemed like both teams might have to settle for a point each and some seriously elevated blood pressure readings all around, Sandro Tonali decided to write his name into World Cup qualifying folklore. Tonali curled in a low shot from 20 yards through a crowded penalty area and into the bottom corner for the winner in the 91st minute, providing a finish that was as cool as the autumn evening in Hungary. The Newcastle United midfielder’s intervention was perfectly timed, coming just when Italy needed it most and just when neutral observers were preparing for the anticlimactic ending of a 4-4 draw.
Tonali’s goal wasn’t just about the three points; it was about keeping alive Italy’s hopes of avoiding another World Cup qualification disaster. The vibrant game was full of emotions and intensity from start to finish, with the Azzurri keeping three important points that allow them to continue in the fight for qualification. His celebration probably lasted longer than most people’s attention spans during Zoom meetings, and rightfully so. In a match where both defenses seemed to have taken a collective coffee break, sometimes you need a
