Estonia and Italy Announce Official Line-Ups for 2026 World Cup Qualifier Showdown
Italy Triumphs in World Cup Qualifier Against Estonia
Italy’s Strategic Line-up Pays Off in Tallinn
Italy’s national football team showcased an aggressive formation in their World Cup qualifier against Estonia at Tallinn’s Le Coq Arena. With a 4-2-4 formation that displayed their attacking intent, Italy aimed to dominate the match significantly. The game commenced at 19:45 UK time (18:45 GMT) and was available for viewing in the UK and Ireland through Amazon Prime Video. In the USA, spectators tuned in via DirecTV Stream, Sling TV, and Tubi TV.
Gennaro Gattuso’s Tactical Adjustments
Under the guidance of Coach Gennaro Gattuso, Italy charged forward after winning their previous matches against Estonia and Israel. However, injuries to Matteo Politano and Mattia Zaccagni led to strategic alterations. Bologna’s Riccardo Orsolini joined Atletico Madrid’s Giacomo Raspadori as attacking wingers, complimented by the proactive full-back pairing of Napoli’s Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Inter’s Federico Dimarco.
Estonia’s Performance and Challenges
Estonia has faced a challenging run in the qualifiers, securing three points with a 3-2 victory over Moldova but suffering defeats in subsequent matches. Notably, the team struggled against Italy, receiving a 5-0 defeat in a previous encounter. Henri Anier’s suspension added to Estonia’s challenges against the Azzurri.
Match Line-ups: Estonia vs. Italy
| Team | Starting Line-up | Bench |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Hein; Peetson, Paskotsi, Kuusk, Saliste; Palumets, Shein; Kait, Soomets, Saarma; A Tamm | Igonen, Perk, Yakovlev, Mustmaa, Kristal, Sappinen, J Tamm, Miller, Mets, Schjonning-Larsen, Vetkal, Sinyavskiy |
| Italy | Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco; Orsolini, Barella, Tonali, Raspadori; Kean, Retegui | Carnesecchi, Vicario, Gabbia, Spinazzola, Locatelli, Udogie, Esposito, Cristante, Frattesi, Cambiaghi, Cambiaso, Mancini |
Upcoming Matches and Hopes
Italy looks to maintain their winning streak as they prepare to host Israel in Udine on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Estonia seeks improved results as the qualifiers progress, learning from past encounters.
