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UDINE, Italy :Israel coach Ran Ben Shimon on Monday said his team were ready for a new start in a key clash against Italy, after they suffered a heavy defeat in Norway last week in the World Cup qualifiers.
Former Italy coach Luciano Spalletti has credited his successor Gennaro Gattuso with turning around their World Cup qualifying campaign after the Azzurri notched their third straight win under the former AC Milan midfielder.
A record 48 teams will play in the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. On Sunday, Ghana became the fifth African nation to qualify. The 2010 quarterfinalist joins Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia at next year’s tournament. Forty-three teams will get their spots through continental qualifying tournaments. Another two will secure their places in the intercontinental playoffs featuring six teams and scheduled for March 2026. The three host countries automatically qualify. The breakdown Asia will have eight direct places and one in the intercontinental playoff. Africa has nine direct spots plus one for the intercontinental playoff.
ACCRA: Ghana became the fifth African nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup on Sunday. The 2010 quarterfinalist joins Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia at next year's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Ghana needed a point against Comoros in its final game in Group I to be certain of qualifying for back-to-back World Cups and sealed its place with a 1-0 win at Accra Sports Stadium. In the end it didn't even need that after second-placed Madagascar lost 4-1 at Mali.
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Erling Haaland continued his devastating form in front of goal with a hat-trick for Norway, while Portugal left it late to beat the Republic of Ireland.
TALLINN: Italy’s hopes of at least making the World Cup qualifying playoffs were given a boost with a 3-1 win away to Estonia on Saturday thanks to goals from Moise Kean, Mateo Retegui and Francesco Pio Esposito. Italy failed to qualify for the last two World Cups, twice missing out in the playoffs, and the dreaded backdoor route now looks their most likely chance after Norway’s 5-0 hammering of Israel in Group I earlier on Saturday. The Norwegians are top on 18 points from six games. Italy have 12 points with a game in hand on their rivals and are three points clear of Israel. Estonia remain fourth on three points. The group winners qualify directly for the World Cup with the runners-up going into the playoffs. Italy raced into a fourth minute lead when Federico Dimarco played the ball into the feet of Kean who twisted and turned his way into the area before unleashing a shot into the far corner. That was Kean’s fourth goal in three games for Italy, but the striker was forced off through injury shortly afterwards, replaced by Esposito whose only previous international appearance also came off the bench against Estonia in September. Retegui won a penalty when fouled by Marten Kuusk but failed to convert as Karl Hein tipped his effort onto the post. “The important thing is to create — missing goals and penalties can happen,” Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso told RAI Sport. “The boys are eager and continuing on the right path.” The Italian forward made up for that miss when doubling the visitors’ lead seven minutes before the break. Riccardo Orsolini played a pass back from the byline and Retegui smashed the ball past Hein from just outside the six-yard box.
NEW YORK: Tiger Woods has undergone his seventh back surgery – his second in just over a year – after doctors discovered a collapsed lumbar disc that had caused severe pain and mobility issues.