Italy Face Defensive Dilemma: Who Will Contain Haaland After Acerbi's Surprise Rejection?

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Italy's World Cup qualification hopes just got more complicated. Francesco Acerbi, the defender who successfully contained ErlinN8ऑफ़र 2025 – ताज़ा बोनस और प्रमोशनg Haaland in previous matchups, has turned down his national team call-up right before a crucial qualifier agaN8 Casino APK – Safe & Latest Versioninst Norway.

The timing couldn't be worse for the Azzurri. They're already dealing with several Inter Milan players feeling demoralized after their 5-0 thrashing by PSG in the Champions League final.N8 Uwin – India’s Popular Online Casino Platform Talk about starting on the wrong foot!

Coach Luciano Spalletti didn't mince words about the upcoming challenge: "It won't be a simple qualifier." He's right to be concerned.

Italy are already playing catch-up in their group. Norway sits at the top with six points and an impressive +7 goal difference after conviN8 Live Casino Login – Access Your Accountncing wins against Moldova and Israel. The pressure is immense considering Italy's painful history of missing the lN8 Casino: लाइव कैसीनो गेम्स का राजाast two World Cups.

The Haaland Problem

Let's talk about the Norwegian scoring machine. Haaland has netted 40 goals in 41 matches for his country and already scored against both Moldova and Israel in this qN8 Casino APK – Safe & Latest Versionualifying campaign. He's recently returned from an ankle injury and looks hungry for more goals.

Acerbi was Italy's Haaland specialist. He kept the Manchester City striker quiet in Inter's Champions League opener (0-0) and in the 2023 ChampiN8मोबाइल ऐप डाउनलोड करेंons League final. But now he's gone, taking to Instagram to express feeling "disrespected" and unwanted in the national setup.

To make matters worse, Alessandro Buongiorno has left the training camp with a thigh injury, and Roma's Gianluca Mancini wasn't even called up. The deN8 Game – Top Online Casino in Indiafensive options are dwindling fast.

Who will step up to contain Haaland? Federico Gatti could be an option, but he's played just eight minutes since breaking a leg bone in MarcN8h. Matteo GabbiYour N8, Your N8 - N8.com परa might get the nod, or perhaps Alessandro Bastoni could shift from left back to central defense.

High Stakes for Italy

The qualification format leaves no room for error. Only the group winner gets direct qualification to next year's WorN8मोबाइल ऐप डाउनलोड करेंld Cup in North America. Second place means entering the playoffs – the very stage where Italy stumbled against Sweden and North MacUwin N8 – India's Trusted Online Casinoedonia in their last two campaigns.

There are some positives in the Italian camp. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma enters the match with confidence after helping PSG lift the ChampionN8ऑफ़र 2025 – ताज़ा बोनस और प्रमोशनs League trophy. And Moise Kean is coming off his career-best season with 19 goals for Fiorentina.

For bettors, this uncertainty in Italy's defense creates interesting opportunities. The Azzurri typically start as favorites, but with their defensive reshuffN8ऑफ़र 2025 – ताज़ा बोनस और प्रमोशनle and Norway's scoring form, the over/under markets and both-teams-to-score options look particularly attractive.

Spalletti summed up the situation perfectly: "Whether we go to the World Cup or not depends a lot on how we play in NorwaN8 Live Casino India – Play Real Games Onliney." With qualification hopes hanging in the balance and defensive questions unanswered, this match could define Italy'N8 Casino Withdrawal – Instant & Secures campaign before it truly begins.

Last updated: September 2025
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