{"id":207130,"date":"2025-10-12T09:07:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-12T09:07:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/207130\/"},"modified":"2025-10-12T09:07:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-12T09:07:08","slug":"italy-must-believe-in-ourselves-more-after-3-1-victory-in-estonia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/207130\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Italy must believe in ourselves more’ after 3-1 victory in Estonia"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Sandro<\/p>\n

Sandro Tonali playing for Italy against Estonia in Tallinn (@azzurri)<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Sandro Tonali felt \u2018comfortable\u2019 as Italy beat Estonia 3-1 in their World Cup qualifier, warning they \u2018must believe more in ourselves and find that confidence.\u2019<\/p>\n

The Nazionale had beaten Estonia 5-0 on Gennaro Gattuso\u2019s debut in Bergamo, and emerged with a 3-1 victory from Tallinn this evening.<\/a><\/p>\n

Moise Kean scored before spraining his ankle, then Mateo Retegui found the net after having missed a penalty.<\/p>\n

Francesco Pio Esposito came off the bench to score his first senior Italy goal, though Gianluigi Donnarumma\u2019s howler gifted Estonia a consolation.<\/p>\n

Tonali sees Italy improvement in Estonia\"ItalyItaly celebrate during the 2026 World Cup qualifier against Estonia in Tallinn (@azzurri)<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is good for our confidence, which we are slowly getting back, and the way we controlled the ball was one of the few times we\u2019ve really been comfortable, even in the last 10 minutes when they all poured forward,\u201d Tonali told Sky Sport Italia.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe respected Estonia, but also played our game and showed how much we wanted to bring the points home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Check the Football Italia Player Ratings for Estonia 1-3 Italy<\/a><\/p>\n

Esposito received a round of applause from the senior players in the locker room, having scored his debut goal at the age of 20.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe deserves it, if a player comes to the Nazionale and gives 100 per cent, scoring a goal, it\u2019s only right he receives that kind of affection. There\u2019s no getting around it, he\u2019s talented and has the right attitude,\u201d noted Tonali.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of the players are just starting out, but they know what they\u2019re doing and don\u2019t need to be led by the hand. We played well for practically the whole 90 minutes today, with confidence and courage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"FrancescoFrancesco Pio Esposito celebrates his first senior Italy goal against Estonia (@azzurri)<\/p>\n

This was a 4-4-2 formation with very attacking wide players, Riccardo Orsolini and Giacomo Raspadori, leaving the keys to the midfield to Tonali and Inter\u2019s Nicol\u00f2 Barella.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe get along well and work together, both on and off the field. What one doesn\u2019t cover, the other will. There is no lack of desire to run and work hard here, so it\u2019s all pretty simple.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul Scholes said this month that Tonali is the best player in the Premier League with his performances at Newcastle United, but he too was amongst those struggling for Italy at the start of this World Cup qualifying campaign.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve all improved many things, that\u2019s for sure. We are not perfect in anything, but we have improved things and will keep doing so,\u201d replied the midfielder.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s therefore right to look at the past and where we were a few months ago, but we must also believe more in ourselves, show more courage and remember we can keep doing better.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re the ones representing Italy on the pitch, so we are the first who should show confidence in ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n


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