With a parting gift for Luciano Spalletti, Italy beat Moldova 2-0 on Tuesday (June 10, 2025) for their first points in the beleaguered team’s attempt to reach the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2014.

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.