Italy claimed a 2-0 win over Moldova in Luciano Spalletti's final game as the men's national team coach. Spalletti said at a news conference on Sunday that Monday's World Cup qualifier would be his last match in charge.

ITALY (Reuters) -Sacked Italy manager Luciano Spalletti bowed out with a victory after his side laboured to an uninspired 2-0 home win over Moldova in their World Cup qualification match on Monday thanks to goals from Giacomo Raspadori and Andrea Cambiaso.

Italy got off the mark in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with Monday's 2-0 win over Moldova, Luciano Spalletti's last game as Italy coach.Spalletti, who presided over a dismal last-16 exit at the Euros,

Group I qualifying for the 2026 World Cup continues Monday, with Italy taking on Moldova in a must-win match for both sides.

Since becoming its own nation, Moldova has never qualified for the World Cup, having not won a match during qualification since the lead-up to the 2014 tournament. Moldova has lost both of its first two matches of qualification this year, losing to Norway, 5-0, back in March, before losing a spirited 3-2 affair to Estonia.

Luciano Spalletti picks his final Italy starting XI against Moldova, including a debut for Fiorentina’s Luca Ranieri, with Davide Frattesi, Samuele Ricci, Federico Dimarco and Andrea Cambiaso stepping in.