Luciano Spalletti has admitted that ‘everything is on the line‘ when Italy take on Norway in their opening World Cup qualifier in Oslo on Friday.
The Azzurri will take on the Norwegians at the Ullevaal Stadion on June 6. Three days later, they welcome Moldova to the Mapei Stadium.
Spalletti was speaking to the press in front of the cameras on Sunday ahead of the two vital clashes. The 66-year-old also claimed his side will be coming up against the ‘best Norway team in history.’
A word from Head Coach Luciano Spalletti 🗣️#Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/nv9SPZo2UJ
— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) June 1, 2025
Luciano Spalletti On Norway
“Let’s be clear: in Norway, everything is on the line when it comes to whether or not we’ll qualify for the World Cup,” Spalletti said at his press conference.
“The players and I are fully aware of it—we mentioned this in yesterday’s meeting with Gigi [Buffon] present. We have a duty to fulfil this task that’s been entrusted to us. We need to qualify because it’s absolutely crucial for us.
“This is the best Norway in its history, with both technical and physical qualities, especially evident in their attacking line.
“They play an aggressive 4-3-3, with Sørloth acting as the central striker, and he has put in some impressive performances,” he added.
Italy Vs Norway H2H Record
The Italy vs Norway h2h soccer record sits firmly in the Azzurri’s favor. Of the 15 previous meetings, the Italians can boast eight wins with four fixtures being drawn.
Therefore, the Norwegians have just three victories to their name. Interestingly, Italy have beaten Norway in three World Cup finals clashes.
The first came in 1938 with the following two in the USA 1994 World Cup then again in France four years later. Last time out, Alessandro Florenzi and Graziano Pelle scored in a 2-1 win at the Stadio Olimpico in a Euro 2016 qualifier.
Luciano Spalletti Speaks Out On Francesco Acerbi
After naming his roster for the Norway and Moldova clashes, Luciano Spalletti spoke out after veteran defender Francesco Acerbi decided to remove himself from selection.
“Acerbi didn’t respond to the call-up. Physical issue? No. He thought about what happened around him. We take note and move on,” Spalletti said.
Legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon expressed his disappointment with Acerbi after he ignored the call-up. The player himself declared he was ‘not part of the CT’s project‘ and opted to drop out.
At 37, age is likely a big factor as to why Acerbi refused to join up with the rest of the squad. His relationship with Spalletti is not smooth and he has also had a very demanding season for Inter.
When Was The Last Time Italy Won The FIFA World Cup?
The last time Italy won the FIFA World Cup was in 2006. The likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Fabio Cannavaro, Andrea Pirlo, Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero starred as the Azzurri beat France in the final.
That victory was the fourth time the Italians have won the most famous soccer tournament on earth after they were also successful in 1934, 1938 and 1982.
Luciano Spalletti may not have a roster blessed with an abundance of world class stars but the best offshore sportsbooks certainly make them one of the favorites for 2026 in the USA. Their price will shift if they can get the better of Norway on Friday.
