Italy begin their World Cup qualification campaign on Friday with ground to make up on Norway, who are the early leaders in Group I. Erling Haaland and co. would take another step closer to the tournament with a win here.

Italy have improved in recent months, though, and they are the favourites to triumph at the Ullevaal Stadion.

Norway vs Italy best bets

• Norway to win – 15/8 with SBK
• Over 2.5 goals – 8/11 with Spreadex
• Erling Haaland to score any time – 5/4 with Tote

Norway vs Italy odds

Find the latest Norway vs Italy betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.

Norway vs Italy predictions

Italy won the European Championship as recently as four years ago, but that success in 2021 did not exactly kick off an era of Azzurri dominance.

Italy failed to qualify for the Qatar World Cup just 18 months later, while they were very disappointing at Euro 2024 in Germany.

Luciano Spalletti’s side scraped into the knockout phase last summer before being roundly beaten by Switzerland in the last 16.

Pessimism abounded after that game, which saw Italy outplayed by a team with nothing like their pedigree on the international stage.

The mood has improved over the last 12 months, though. Italy gave a spirited showing in the Nations League, finishing just a point behind France in their group.

That was enough for them to advance to the quarter-finals, where Italy were edged out 5-4 on aggregate by Germany. They may ultimately have been second best after 180 minutes, but Spalletti’s side demonstrated an ability to hang with one of the strongest national teams in the world.

Attention now turns to World Cup qualification. Astonishingly, Italy have not participated in the biggest football event on the planet since 2014. Even more remarkably, they have won only one World Cup match since the 2006 final.

Italy are desperate to make up for their poor recent record, but first they must book a place at the expanded event.

Because of their involvement in the Nations League quarter-finals in March, Italy are yet to begin their World Cup qualification campaign. Norway, their opponents on Friday, have already played twice and won twice.

That puts some pressure on Italy ahead of this trip to Oslo. Were they to lose, they would already be nine points behind Norway with only one team in Group I qualifying automatically.

Italy would still have two games in hand and none of Israel, Estonia nor Moldova is likely to cause them too many problems, but it would still leave the Azzurri with minimal margin for error.

“In a game of this level, there are no differences between the two teams, so it will always be a balanced match,” Spaletti said in his pre-match press conference.

“The essential thing is to go out there with heads held high and the right look in our eyes. We will try to win, which I imagine Norway will do as well.”

Norway vs Italy betting tips

Norway and Italy are preparing to lock horns in an important World Cup qualifier on Friday.

Norway to win

With the likes of Erling Haaland, Alexander Sorloth and Martin Odegaard at their disposal, Norway really ought to have qualified for a 24-team Euro 2024.

There will be fewer European teams than that at the World Cup next year, but Norway are targeting qualification for the first time since 1998.

The presence in their side of Odegaard and Haaland makes them a dangerous opponent for anyone, not least an Italy team that is missing some important players.

Riccardo Calafiori and Manuel Locatelli are among the injured absentees, while Francesco Acerbi dramatically turned down a call-up after accusing Spalletti of disrespecting him.

All the ingredients are there for a Norway victory. 

Tip Norway to win at 15/8 with SBK

Over 2.5 goals

With Italy forced to use a patched-up backline, Spalletti may conclude that attack is the best form of defence on Friday.

Moise Kean and Mateo Retegui both enjoyed fine seasons in Serie A and there is a chance they will start up front together here.

Even if Spalletti leaves one of the two strikers on the bench, the deputy has the potential to be a game-changing substitute. 

Norway should also pack a punch in attack with Sorloth and Haaland being supported by Odegaard. 

Stale Solbakken’s side have scored nine goals in two qualifiers up to now, so Italy’s makeshift defence will be tested.

Choose over 2.5 goals at 8/11 with Spreadex

Erling Haaland to score any time

By his own high standards, Haaland is coming off a season that was not among the best of his career to date.

Yet the Manchester City frontman still plundered 31 goals in all competitions, a tally that most strikers can only dream about.

Haaland’s record for his country is phenomenal. With 40 goals in 41 senior caps, he is already Norway’s all-time leading scorer at the age of 24.

Haaland can add another strike to his tally at the Ullevaal Stadion as Norway attempt to take another step closer to the World Cup by beating Italy for the first time since 2000.

Select Erling Haaland to score any time at 5/4 with Tote

How to watch Norway vs Italy

• Location: Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway.
• Date and time: Friday 6th June, 7.45pm.
• How to watch: Amazon Prime Video.

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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