The China Mail - Gattuso's Italy hammer Estonia in World Cup qualifier

Goals in the second half from Moise Kean, Mateo Retegui -- who netted twice -- Giacomo Raspadori and Alessandro Bastoni gave Italy three points from a match in Bergamo, which the Azzurri dominated from the first minute and finished with fans chanting Gattuso's name.

Italy are third in Group I, six points behind leaders Norway who have played one game more, ahead of Monday's contested clash with second-placed Israel in Debrecen, Hungary.

Three points separate Italy from Israel and the group's play-off spot which is the likelier route for a place in next year's finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico with only first place offering direct qualification.

In addition to the significant points gap to Norway, Italy have a goal difference that is seven worse than Erling Haaland and company, who thumped the four-time world champions 3-0 in June.

Italy could have made an even bigger dent in the goal difference gap with more accurate finishing earlier in the game, with a host of chances coming and going before Kean eventually nodded home Retegui's neat flick in the 58th minute.

By that point both strikers had already missed good opportunities, with Kean smashing over from close range in the 37th minute before Retegui had a header tipped over by Karl Hein on the stroke of half-time.

Hein kept out a smart Sandro Tonali volley moments before Kean opened the scoring, and 11 minutes later Retegui doubled the hosts lead with an expertly-placed low shot.

Substitute Raspadori made the scoreline better reflect the balance of play in the 71st minute when he was left completely free to spectacularly head in Matteo Politano's cross.

And Retegui and Bastoni completed the rout in the dying moments of the game with smart headers which gave Gattuso a near perfect debut.

B.Carter--ThChM