Italy’s Dominant Display Against Estonia Signals New Era Under Gattuso

A Perfect Start for Gattuso’s Italy

The Italian national team delivered a masterclass performance on Friday, demolishing Estonia 5-0 at the Gewiss Stadium in what proved to be a perfect start for new manager Gennaro Gattuso.

Match Highlights and Goal Scorers

The Azzurri showcased their attacking prowess with goals from multiple players, including Moise Kean, Giacomo Raspadori, Alessandro Bastoni, and a double from Mateo Retegui. The dominance was reflected in the possession statistics, with Italy controlling approximately 70% of the ball throughout the match.

Historical Context

The victory continues Italy’s perfect record against Estonia, having won all seven previous meetings between the two nations. The Azzurri have been particularly dominant in this fixture, scoring 20 goals while conceding only two in their history against Estonia.

Qualification Implications

The win comes at a crucial time for Italy, who are entering a new phase under Gattuso’s leadership and needed the victory to maintain their World Cup qualification hopes. In contrast, Estonia’s struggles in European qualifiers continue, having won just two of their last 29 qualifying matches, with victories only against Moldova and Belarus since October 2017.

Looking Ahead

The European Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will continue through November 2025, with play-offs for the remaining finals places scheduled for March 2026. This commanding victory sets a positive tone for Italy’s campaign and suggests a promising future under their new management.