Italy vs Norway

A busy night at San Siro awaits as Italy prepare to face Norway on Sunday, 16 November 2025, with kickoff set for 20:45 in Milan. The match serves as the final round of qualifying, and Italy enter knowing that direct qualification is essentially out of reach, while Norway arrive in a far stronger position at the top of the group.

Squad availability has been a major storyline in Italy’s camp this week. Riccardo Calafiori is unavailable due to a hip injury confirmed by the staff. Sandro Tonali will not take part as Italy have chosen to rest him to avoid a yellow-card suspension that would carry over into the playoff path. Goalkeeper Elia Caprile has also been left out of the match squad. Norway, on the other hand, come into the match with no significant injury concerns, giving them the stability to use their usual starting structure.

Gennaro Gattuso is expected to rely on a three-man defense, setting Italy up in a 3-5-2 to deal with Norway’s direct and physical attacking style. He has stressed the need for maximum commitment and focus, calling the match an opportunity for his players to show character despite the difficult qualification situation. Davide Frattesi has been confirmed as a starter, while the final defensive slot appears to be between Gianluca Mancini and Alessandro Buongiorno.

The Italian press has taken a tense tone in the buildup. Many publications describe this fixture as symbolic more than decisive, pointing out how far Italy have fallen behind in the group. Much of the commentary is directed at Gattuso’s need to rebuild confidence and identity within the squad. In Norway, the media focus has been noticeably calmer, treating the match as a chance to seal what has already been an excellent qualifying run.

Studio analysts generally expect Norway to manage the game with control. Their discussions highlight Italy’s reshuffled defense and the lack of depth caused by key absences. Several pundits suggest that Italy’s tactical change may help contain Norway for stretches, but they also warn that Norway’s pace up front and their ability to exploit spaces could cause persistent problems for the Azzurri. The consensus remains that Italy will need an exceptional performance to match Norway’s current form.