Reactions to Estonia 1-3 Italy as Azzurri face World Cup playoff threat

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Players of Italy during the warms up during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Italy beat Estonia 3-1 on Saturday, but the Azzurri are still expected to go through the playoffs to qualify for the 2026 World Cup: here are the best social media reactions to last night’s win.

Italy’s 3-1 away victory against Estonia on Saturday provided some good news for the Azzurri, especially regarding the attack, given that Moise Kean, Mateo Retegui and Francesco Pio Esposito all found the net in Gattuso’s third game in charge.

Esposito scored his first-ever international goal at a senior level, while Kean suffered an ankle injury that leaves him in serious doubt for Tuesday’s game against Israel.

Italy remain six points below Group I leaders Norway. The Azzurri have a game in hand, but the gap in goal difference in favour of Erling Haaland’s side makes Gennaro Gattuso’s men unlikely to finish top of the group.

Norway beat Israel 5-0 yesterday, further reducing the Azzurri’s chances of overtaking them in the table.

Below are the best reactions, from fans and media, to Italy’s victory against Estonia, while here you can read Football Italia’s player ratings from last night.

Estonia 1-3 Italy – social media reactions

#NUFC star Sandro Tonali’s game by numbers for Italy vs. Estonia tonight:

98 minutes played ⏰
106 touches ⚽️
72/81 passes completed 🎯
5 chances created 🎨
5 recoveries 💪🏽
4/4 duels won ⚔️
3 fouls won 🔋@FotMob player of the match 📊

Truly thriving under his idol Gattuso. 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/4ueHDq27Rg

— Magpie Media (@MagpieMediaX) October 11, 2025

✅ Riccardo Calafiori played the full 90, won 88% of his aerial duels (7/8), made 5 recoveries, and created 2 chances in Italy’s 3-1 win over Estonia! 👏🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/5kP2r6uHmb

— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) October 12, 2025

🇮🇹 Moise Kean has scored 4 goals in his last 3 games for Italy.

⚽ vs. Estonia 🇪🇪
⚽ ⚽ vs. Israel 🇮🇱
⚽ vs. Estonia 🇪🇪 pic.twitter.com/vzakIO7dt2

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) October 11, 2025

Can’t keep a clean sheet vs Estonia pic.twitter.com/qXXOFJxFwA

— S4NSO Ⓜ️ (CHAMPION OF ITALY) (@NapoliSansone) October 11, 2025

Only Calafiori (8) won more duels than Pio Esposito (7) for Italy vs Estonia. Pio was also the player who was fouled most times (5).

— F.C. InterData (@Fcinterdata) October 11, 2025

Watching Estonia’s goal vs Italy yesterday and becoming even more certain in my opinion about Donnarumma.

Good goalkeeper, elite on his day, but the “world’s best” shouts and awards are laughable to me.

— Dan Critchlow (@afcDW) October 12, 2025

Gazzetta dello Sport’s grades for Italy in their win yesterday over Estonia:

👨‍🏫 Gennaro Gattuso – 7

👨‍🏫 Pio Esposito – 7
👨‍🏫 Federico Dimarco – 7
👨‍🏫 Nicolo Barella – 7
👨‍🏫 Riccardo Calafiori – 6.5
👨‍🏫 Sandro Tonali – 6.5
👨‍🏫 Riccardo Orsolini – 6.5
👨‍🏫 Moise Kean – 6.5
👨‍🏫 Mateo…

— Raffaele (@ItalianoCalcio) October 12, 2025

Italy’s qualification results for 2006 World Cup. We’ve never been an exciting team. Our identity was based of defence. Were not Brazil or Germany. Real fans would know this https://t.co/TPy5WTjdjZ pic.twitter.com/qfHjUvW4pC

— Tony (@YourUncleTony21) October 11, 2025

Hypothetical: how Italy could directly qualify for the World Cup 👇

Current:
🇳🇴 Norway GD +26 (2 games to play)
🇮🇹 Italy GD +5 (4 games to play)

Let’s give Norway a 6-0 v Estonia…

Italy would need:
• 10-0 v Estonia
• 4-0 v Israel
• 12-0 v Moldova
• WIN v Norway

— Adriano Del Monte (@adriandelmonte) October 11, 2025

4 – Moise Kean is the 4th player to score in at least four consecutive World Cup qualifying matches for Italy 🇮🇹, after:
🔹 Luigi Riva (5 goals, 1968–1972)
🔹 Roberto Bettega (4, 1976–1977)
🔹 Filippo Inzaghi (4, 2000–2001)

Consistency.#EstoniaItalia

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) October 11, 2025