Italy travel to face Israel in a World Cup qualifier at the Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa on Monday trading as bet365’s 13/20 favourites to get their bid to qualify into the tournament finals in Russian Federation in two years’ time off to a winning start. Antonio Candreva stepped up and made no mistake from 12-yards, out.
Advertisement
Ciro Immobile, a second-half substitute, sealed the victory with an emphatic finish seven minutes from time.
In the next batch of qualifiers in October Italy tackle Spain in Turin while Israel travel to Skopje to face Macedonia.
Israel reduced the deficit five minutes later courtesy of a fine strike from Tal Ben Chaim fom the edged of the box.
Italy welcomed back Leonardo Bonucci in defence after he missed Thursday’s friendly defeat to France due to personal reasons, but midfielder Daniele De Rossi was out injured.
Graziano Pelle scored the first, 14 minutes into the game, which is being played in Haifa.
In the 31st minute, Italy won a controversial penalty when Israeli defender Ben Bitton knocked Giacomo Bonaventura to the ground.
Italy boast arguably the strongest backline in global football and their last five victories in all formats have been to nil: back a road win at -2.5 goals at 9/4. With the drop of a shoulder, Ben Chaim looked up a placed a deft chip over the stranded Gianluigi Buffon and into the top corner.
The Italian almost restored their two-goal advantage on the stroke of halftime, but Pelle’s first-time strike forced David Goresh into a fine save.
Nir Bitton’s long-range effort was parried by Buffon as Israel threatened at the start of the second half and there was more good news for the home side in the 55th minute when Chiellini saw red.
Advertisement
It was the Italian defender’s first red card in 90 appearances for the Azzurri.
