Preview: Israel vs Italy – prediction, team news, lineups

Both big winners last time out, potential Group I playoff rivals Italy and Israel will meet on Monday, as they pursue a place at World Cup 2026.

With Norway favourites to top their qualifying group, neither side can afford to drop points in Hungary, where the Azzurri will seek a second straight win under new management.

Match preview

Following successive World Cup qualifying failures, Italy began their quest to end 12 years of hurt with a chastening 3-0 loss in Norway, spelling the end for Luciano Spalletti and leaving them trailing far behind top spot in Group I.

Spalletti then signed off with an unconvincing 2-0 win against Moldova, before handing the reins to new boss Gennaro Gattuso, who has been tasked with reviving the Azzurri and making sure they do not miss a third straight global finals.

With a nine-point deficit and two games in hand, Italy came into this month’s international window playing catch-up, and they completed their first mission by eventually sweeping aside Estonia on Friday.

After finally breaking through just before the hour mark, Gattuso’s new-look side raced away to an emphatic 5-0 victory in Bergamo, where Moise Kean‘s opener set the stage for a Mateo Retegui brace; substitute Giacomo Raspadori also found the net, before setting up Alessandro Bastoni for a fifth goal in stoppage time.

Strike partners Kean and Retegui carved out plenty of chances, and a final tally of 40 shots showed La Nazionale’s attacking intent on home turf, but they now face a tougher assignment at Nagyerdei Stadion.

Assuming Norway maintain their progress and secure automatic qualification by finishing first, Italy’s most likely rivals for a playoff place are up next.

Including two defeats in qualifying for Russia 2018 – and back-to-back UEFA Nations League losses last year – Israel have been beaten in all of the sides’ six previous meetings.

Yet, they will head into Monday’s crucial clash with a three-point lead over Italy – who still have one game in hand – and they remain contenders to at least finish runners-up in Group I.

Two goals in either half secured maximum points last time out, as Dor Peretz kicked off the scoring in a 4-0 away win over Moldova that leaves them tucked behind leaders Norway.

Ran Ben Shimon‘s men are ultimately aiming to end a long drought, as Israel’s most recent World Cup appearance came back in 1970, and they have inched towards next year’s finals with three wins either side of losing 4-2 to the Norwegians.

Now, they must face down a revived Italian side in Debrecen, where even one point would be good enough to retain second spot.

Israel World Cup Qualifying – Europe form: W L W W

Israel form (all competitions): W W L W W W

Italy World Cup Qualifying – Europe form: L W W

Italy form (all competitions): L L D L W W

Team News

Following a failed experiment with three men at the back under Luciano Spalletti, Italy reverted to a four-man defence on Friday night, and the same defensive unit could line up ahead of captain Gianluigi Donnarumma again. 

In attack, Mateo Retegui – who was Serie A’s Capocannoniere in 2024-25 and scored twice against Estonia – may continue to link up with Moise Kean, though Gattuso might add an extra midfielder to deal with more dangerous opposition.

Gianluca Scamacca belatedly withdrew from the squad due to a knee problem, but Gattuso handed Inter Milan striker Francesco Pio Esposito his senior debut as a late substitute in Bergamo; Atletico Madrid’s Giacomo Raspadori made a major impact from the bench and will push for selection from the start.

Israel are also set to name a similar XI to that which won last time out, with Dor Peretz, Manor Solomon and Ajax forward Oscar Gloukh featuring behind a lone central striker.

Tai Baribo started up front against Moldova and scored in the second half, but Dor Turgeman offers another option for coach Ran Ben Shimon.

Captain and right-back Eli Dasa is without a club after leaving Dynamo Moscow, so his fitness will be fully tested by the likes of Federico Dimarco and Mattia Zaccagni on Italy’s left flank.

Israel possible starting lineup: Da. Peretz; Dasa, Lemkin, Nachmias, Revivo; Do. Peretz, E. Peretz; Biton, Gloukh, Solomon; Baribo

Italy possible starting lineup: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco; Barella, Locatelli, Tonali; Politano, Retegui, Zaccagni

We say: Israel 1-2 Italy

In a strange atmosphere on neutral soil, Italy may find it tough to overcome an improving Israel side. 

Nonetheless, the Azzurri seemed to have found a missing spark last time out, so if their back four can hold firm, three more points should be theirs.

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