Norway vs. Italy predicted lineups, team news, score prediction: Azzurri missing multiple defenders for World Cup qualifier

Italy begin their quest for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification with a qualifier against Erling Haaland and Norway on Friday in Oslo.

The Azzurri have failed to qualify for the last two World Cup tournaments, with those two enormous failures sandwiching a Euro 2020 title and a Round of 16 appearance last year.

The struggles in World Cup qualification paint a stark contrast to their continental performances against similar competition, and Luciano Spalletti has been tasked with reversing their terrible recent fortunes in the UEFA qualifying section.

Norway, meanwhile, will hope that their recent growth behind a number of generational superstars will have them positioned to qualify for a World Cup for the first time since 1998, with Group I filled out by Israel, Estonia, and Moldova.

The group winner will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the second-place finisher advances to the playoff round.

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Norway vs. Italy predicted lineups, team news

Manchester City star Erling Haaland will continue to lead the Norway line, with 40 career international goals in 41 appearances. He will be fed with chances by Arsenal playmaker Martin Odegaard, who collected a hat-trick of assists in the March draw with Germany.

Haaland could partner up front with Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth, although he has also been effective for club and country coming off the bench as a late attacking option. Fulham midfielder Sander Berge has eclipsed the 50-cap mark and is a lock in midfield, along with Patrick Berg of Bodo/Glimt.

The only injury concerns for Norway are the absences of Sassuolo midfielder Kristian Thorstvedt, Malmo forward Erik Botheim, and MLS defender Stian Rode Gregersen.

Norway predicted lineup (4-4-2, right to left): Nyland (GK) — Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Wolfe — Odegaard, Berge, Berg, Schjelderup — Haaland, Sorloth

Norway full roster

Goalkeepers: Mathias Dyngeland, Orjan Nyland, Egil Selvik

Defenders: Kristoffer Ajer, Jostein Gundersen, Torbjorn Heggem, Leo Skiri Ostigard, Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, Colin Rosler, Julian Ryerson, David Moller Wolfe

Midfielders: Thelo Aasgaard, Patrick Berg, Sander Berge, Aron Donnum, Lasse Berg Johnsen, Felix Horn Myhre, Antonio Nusa, Martin Odegaard, Andreas Schjelderup, Morten Thorsby

Forwards: Oscar Bobb, Erling Haaland, Jorgen Strand Larsen, Alexander Sorloth.

Italy are thin on centre-backs, with Alessandro Buongiorno, Riccardo Calafiori, and Matteo Gabbia all unavailable due to injury and 37-year-old Francesco Acerbi retiring from international duty. It means that either Diego Coppola or Luca Ranieri could make their international debut in this match out of necessity.

Manuel Locatelli withdrew from the squad after suffering an ankle injury at the end of the season with Juventus, but the midfield remains the strength of this Italian side.

Up front, Spalletti must decide who to select as a strike partner for Moise Kean, with Mateo Retegui or Giacomo Raspadori the most likely candidates.

Italy predicted lineup (3-5-2, right to left): Donnarumma (GK) — Gatti, Coppola, Bastoni — Di Lorenzo, Barella, Frattesi, Tonali, Udogie — Kean, Retegui

Italy full roster

Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alex Meret

Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni, Andrea Cambiasso, Diego Coppola, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Federico Dimarco, Federico Gatti, Destiny Udogie, Luca Ranieri, Davide Zappacosta

Midfielders: Nicolo Barella, Cesare Casadei, Davide Frattesi, Samuele Ricci, Nicolo Rovella, Sandro Tonali

Forwards: Moise Kean, Lorenzo Lucca, Daniel Maldini, Riccardo Orsolini, Giacomo Raspadori, Mateo Retegui.

Norway vs. Italy score prediction

Italy have failed to win three consecutive matches, although those adverse results have come against France plus a pair against Germany. Still, they have not been capable of keeping clean sheets and don’t possess the superstar attacking threat up front to keep up if things get away from them defensively.

Norway will be in position to pick up a point here at home, as the combination of Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland has been prolific and they have put up big attacking numbers against lower-tier opposition.

Predicted score: Norway 2-2 Italy

Norway vs. Italy: Live stream, TV channel

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