World Cup Qualifiers: Italy secures a hat-trick against Israel thanks to a superb Retegui, reaching the playoffs.

In Udine, Italy won a crucial match against Israel and mathematically reached the playoffs for the next World Cup. A superb Retegui brace and Mancini's stoppage-time strike were decisive for the 3-0 win. In November, Gattuso's team will face Moldova and Norway before finding out their opponents in the playoffs, which will be played in March.

Italy-Israel 3-0

The first half began at a slow pace, with Italy struggling to build. In the 9th minute, Cambiaso fired from the edge of the box after a quick move, but the ball went wide. In the 15th minute, Raspadori tried his luck with a diagonal shot from a tight angle that went wide. The most dangerous chance, however, came from Israel with Gloukh, who grazed the post with a shot from the edge of the box in the 18th minute. In the 27th minute, Donnarumma denied Solomon with a stunning save. At the end of the first half, Retegui was brought down in the penalty area and the referee awarded a penalty. Just like against Estonia, he stepped up to take the penalty. Retegui, who this time doesn't miss and scores the 1-0.

At half-time, Gattuso brought on Pio Esposito in place of Raspadori.

In the second half, the first chance fell to Barella, who volleyed just wide from the edge of the box. In the 59th minute, Donnarumma saved the Azzurri for the second time, performing another miracle on Gloukh's shot. In the 74th minute, Retegui He recovered the ball and unleashed a perfect curling shot that landed in the top corner to make it 2-0. It was the Italian number 9's fifth goal in six qualifying matches. In the 83rd minute, Retegui passed to Pio Esposito, who missed from a great position but was saved by Glazer. In injury time, Calafiori almost made it three with a header from a corner. A minute later, Mancini to score the 3-0 with a perfect header from Dimarco's cross. It ends 3-0.