Udogie: ‘Italy ready for Haaland, Coppola needs no advice’ on debut in 2026 World Cup qualifier

Destiny Udogie insists Italy are ‘ready’ to deal with Erling Haaland and Norway in tonight’s World Cup qualifier, while he goes back a long way with debutant Diego Coppola.

It kicks off at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT, 20.45 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

The Azzurri are in Group I along with Norway, Moldova, Estonia and Israel.

While this is the first match for the Nazionale, Norway have already played and won two games to top the group.

Udogie confident for Italy

“This is a very important match against a great team. We are ready,” Udogie told RAI Sport and Sky Sport Italia.

“We know full well it is a World Cup qualifier and what is at stake.”

Udogie has already faced off against Erling Haaland in the Premier League when Tottenham Hotspur played Manchester City, so he knows the Norway international well.

“Haaland is a very physical, pacey and strong player. I am sure he will try to attack the space, so we must be ready to defend.”

Hellas Verona defender Coppola is an Italy Under-21 international, but gets his senior Azzurri debut starting in the defence in Oslo with Alessandro Bastoni and Giovanni Di Lorenzo.

Considering Udogie has known him for a long time, did he have any advice for this new Italy teammate?

“I’ve known Coppola since the Verona youth academy, he’s a great friend. He doesn’t need many words of advice from me. This is the World Cup and we all want to be there,” smiled Udogie.

“We came here to dominate the match, aware that Norway are strong in attack, but we are here to play our football.”