A nervy start, then two goals and three points. Luciano Spalletti’s spell in charge of the national team ends with a win, just as the manager had asked for on the eve of the match, though the performance was far from convincing. The 2-0 result in Reggio Emilia gets Italy off the mark in Group I of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, following last Friday’s setback in Oslo against Norway, who made it two from two with victory in Estonia.

“We struggled again tonight,” said Spalletti in his post-match analysis. “But there were too many factors at play, and what we’d already seen was confirmed. I found a group that had reached the end of the season fatigued, with players worn out by what they’ve been through over the course of the campaign. One of the biggest challenges was having to go and play in Oslo at this point in time – with tonight’s win and another one, even a scrappy one, it could’ve been a very different story. I’m not leaving behind huge enthusiasm, even though the fans responded brilliantly. In the end, it’s the players and the coach who have to make the difference – and that’s something I didn’t manage to do.”

THE MATCH. There were five changes to the Italy XI that kicked off three days ago: Ranieri came into the backline for his senior international debut, while Cambiaso, Frattesi, Ricci and Dimarco slotted into midfield. Up front, it was once again Raspadori and Retegui leading the line. It was a nightmare start for the Azzurri, who were undone by a Nicolaescu header after a teasing cross from the left by Reabciuk – but the Moldovan forward’s effort was chalked off for offside after a VAR review. Ranieri rose highest to meet a corner but only managed to rattle the top of the crossbar on 17 minutes. Retegui had a decent sight of goal just after the half-hour mark, but his left-footed effort was smothered by Avram. The Azzurri looked to step it up down the left flank, and Dimarco tried his luck soon after, only to find the side netting with another left-footed strike. The breakthrough finally came five minutes before the break. Raspadori, back at the ground he once called home during his Sassuolo days, rifled in a right-footed finish from inside the box – a goal that will have brought back memories of his first ever strike in an Italy shirt, scored in this very city against Lithuania on 8 September 2021.

Two changes at the break: Barella and Orsolini came on for Ricci and Dimarco. But just like in the first half, Italy were given a scare by a Nicolaescu header – this time he was onside, but couldn’t direct it on target. Moments later came the second goal: a burst down the right from Orsolini and a low cross that Frattesi failed to connect with cleanly. The ball, however, fell to Cambiaso, who rifled home with his right foot to beat Avram. Frattesi misfired again in the 73rd minute, shortly after Lucca had replaced Retegui, despite bringing down a long ball from Bastoni with a good first touch. Avram dealt with it at the second attempt, in a closing spell where not even Maldini’s introduction could add to a scoreline that still felt too slim to leave the pitch truly satisfied. From September, with a new head coach in charge, a new Italy will be needed to reach the World Cup.

ITALY 2-0 MOLDOVA

ITALV (3-5-1-1): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Ranieri (Coppola); Cambiaso, Frattesi, Ricci (Barella), Tonali, Dimarco (Orsolini); Raspadori (Maldini); Retegui (dal Lucca). Subs.: Meret, Carnesecchi, Rovella, Gatti, Udogie, Casadei, Rugani. Coach: Spalletti

MOLDOVA (3-4-3): Avram; Baboglo, Mudrac, Dumbravanu; Platica, Ionita (Dros), Bodisteanu (Motpan), Reabciuk; Caimacov (Stina), Nicolaescu (Damascan), Postolachi (Perciun). Subs.: Straistari, Cojuhar, Bors, Posmac, Motoc, Stefan, Bitca. Ct. Clescenco

Goals: 40' Raspadori, 50' Cambiaso
Referee: Schnyder (Switzerland). Linesmen: M. Zürcher, B. Zürcher (Switzerland). Fourth Official: Cibelli (Switzerland). VAR: Tschudi (Switzerland). AVAR: Wolfensberger (Switzerland)
Notes: Booked: Clescenco (Ct Moldova), Nicolaescu (M), Frattesi (I). Attendance: 18,771