UDINE, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Sandro Tonali of Italy before kick off at the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League A Group A2 match between Italy and Israel at Stadio Friuli on October 14, 2024 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
Sandro Tonali hails Norway talents Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard as ‘among the best players in the Premier League,’ but warns Italy ‘must take the weight off our minds and play with freedom.’
It kicks off in Oslo on Friday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT, 20.45 CET).
This is the opening fixture for the Azzurri in the qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup, followed by a game against Moldova on Monday.
“Norway have good players, but we are ready and trained well for this match,” said Tonali in his press conference.
Playing in the Premier League for Newcastle United, he got to see Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard up close.
“They are two of the best players in the Premier League, they will create difficulties for us, but we are ready to take them on. Haaland is the best Number 9 in the world and he is very tough to play against. Odegaard is different, a very technical player with great talent, in my view the best player at Arsenal.”
Tonali warning on Italy pressure
Italy missed out on the last two editions of the World Cup, failing in the play-offs in 2018 and 2024, so an entire generation of Azzurri supporters and players never experienced this tournament.
“That was a shock, both for the players and the fans,” confessed Tonali.
“When you play football, you want to participate in certain competitions, and in 10-15 years that might make the difference. We know that we cannot get it wrong, we must play our best football tomorrow and do it without feeling the pressure. We realise it weighs heavily on all Italians, but what we need now is to take that weight off our minds and play with freedom.”
The squad is decimated by injuries, the latest of which are Moise Kean, Alessandro Buongiorno, Matteo Gabbia and Riccardo Calafiori, while Francesco Acerbi rejected the call-up.
“There is no negativity in the locker room. It’s true, we had a lot of injuries lately, but we are still Italy and it makes no difference if we are up against France, Germany or Norway, we are Italy. We will not hide behind this alibi of injuries, we are not seeking a way out,” assured Tonali.
“Every game is different, we need to see if we really can play without that tension. We are strong and we are representing Italy, but the pressure outside doesn’t help us right now, and that is something we worked on this week.”
With other players feeling the effects of difficult seasons at club level, does Tonali see himself as a leader of the Italy squad?
“We all have the same responsibility. There is nobody here with 500 caps under their belt who can proclaim themselves a leader. We are a healthy group, a young group. Every day we have more to learn and know that we must prove we can play in this competition,” concluded the former Milan midfielder.
