Italy rally to beat Israel 5-4 in nine-goal World Cup qualifier as Gattuso clashes with opponent

Italy secured a dramatic 5-4 victory over Israel in a World Cup qualifying match on Monday, with Sandro Tonali scoring a 91st‑minute winner and manager Gennaro Gattuso involved in a heated confrontation with an Israel player after the final whistle.

The match was 1-1 at halftime after Moise Kean equalized following a Manuel Locatelli own goal. The second half produced seven goals: Dor Peretz put Israel ahead, Kean levelled again, Matteo Politano gave Italy the lead for the first time, and Giacomo Raspadori made it 4-2 with nine minutes remaining. Peretz scored his second and Alessandro Bastoni then turned the ball into his own net to pull Israel level, but Tonali struck deep into stoppage time to clinch the win for the visitors.

The victory keeps Italy in second place in their qualifying group behind Norway. Only the group winner qualifies automatically for the World Cup in North America next summer, leaving the return meeting with Norway on matchday eight with potentially decisive implications for Italy's chances of avoiding the playoff route. Italy's remaining fixtures include reverse meetings with Estonia, Israel and Moldova, and the return against Norway, with qualification concluding in mid-November.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who completed a £26 million move to Manchester City from Paris Saint-Germain this month, made four saves but conceded four goals. Early in the match he punched a corner that ricocheted toward his own net before the referee intervened; the incident was ultimately ruled not to be an own goal. Donnarumma is in line to make his Manchester City debut against Manchester United this weekend.

Tensions spilled over at full time when Israel forward Dor Turgeman confronted Gattuso on the pitch. Gattuso squared up as staff and players intervened; Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori helped pull the Italy coach away. After the game, Gattuso told Sky Sport Italia, "It was murder today. It's the craziest game I've been involved with as a coach, but it is my problem and not that of the players."

Gattuso spoke critically of his side's defensive fragility and of tactical choices made in the match. "If we want to play in a certain way, we need to get better at this. We were crazy to systematically go on the attack, that's what Israel were waiting for, they hit us on the counter every time," he said. "The lads deserve credit for always reacting to every slap in the face, but it’s undeniable we cannot concede goals as easily as we did today. It’s not criticism for our players, me and my staff have to improve and work on that as soon as possible. This is a team that cannot lack solidity."

Gattuso also praised Tonali, saying, "Sandro is technically far better than I was. Perhaps I am a tad better tactically, but he is still learning." The win gives Italy three valuable points and keeps them in contention as qualifying moves toward its final months.