Kean: ‘I felt the whole country on my shoulders’ with Italy goal
Moise Kean ‘felt the whole country was on my shoulders’ after scoring in Italy’s 2-0 win over Northern Ireland, but they have ‘one more game to go’ for a World Cup ticket.The Azzurri went in...
Kean: ‘I felt the whole country on my shoulders’ with Italy goal Moise Kean ‘felt the whole country was on my shoulders’ after scoring in Italy’s 2-0 win over Northern Ireland , but they have ‘one more game to go’ for a World Cup ticket. The Azzurri went into the play-off semi-final with so much pressure as the favourites, but needed until the 56 th minute to finally break the deadlock with Sandro Tonali’s strike. Tonali also provided the assist for the second goal, which Kean controlled with his right foot to cut inside the defender, placing the left-foot finish into the far bottom corner.
Kean sealed the Italy win BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 26: Moise Kean of Italy scores his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Italy and Northern Ireland at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) “There is one more game to go, we need one more step, but we are feeling positive and need to keep going,” Kean told Sky Sport Italia. “Northern Ireland are a good team, we should’ve studied them a bit more.
Our game was good tonight, now we set our minds to the next test. ” BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 26: Moise Kean of Italy is challenged by Ruairi McConville of Northern Ireland during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Italy and Northern Ireland at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Italy have won all but one of their matches since Gattuso took over from Luciano Spalletti, but it was still not enough to snatch first place in the qualifying group from Norway.
“The coach has so much love for the Azzurri shirt, he pushes us to never give up. ” Kean admits he felt the pressure too, knowing that the Nazionale have missed the last two editions of the World Cup by losing play-offs in 2018 and 2022. “I felt the whole country was on my shoulders, and it was wonderful when I scored, I hope to continue helping my team and my country.