OSLO: Italy launched their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 3-0 defeat by Norway in Oslo in the rain. The Norwegians thus lead European Group I with nine points after three matches.

They took the lead after 14 minutes when Alexander Sorloth timed his run perfectly to convert a through ball from Antonio Nusa. Twenty minutes later Nusa controlled a pass with a slick first touch, burst past two Italian defenders and shot home from the edge of the penalty box.

The first-half rout continued when another through ball from Martin Odegaard found an unmarked Erling Haaland, who rounded Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to score Norway’s third just before the break.

Grooup J saw North Macedonia equalise four minutes from time to hold Belgium to a 1-1 draw.

Maxim De Cupyer’s first half goal had Belgium in the lead as they played their first game of the campaign for places at the 2026 finals in North America.

However Ezgjan Alioski scored a superb goal as he latched onto a cross from Darko Churlinov that floated over his head before he volleyed home.

North Macedonia have five points, with one win and two draws from their opening three games, while Wales took over the lead in the standings after they beat Liechtenstein 3-0 at home to move to seven points.

Wales made the breakthrough shortly before half-time as Joe Rodon headed in his first international goal from Sorba Thomas’ corner.

Liechtenstein barely ventured out of their own penalty area, never mind their half, yet they were somehow able to resist the tides of Welsh pressure until they succumbed to two quickfire goals after the interval.

Harry Wilson nodded in his fifth goal in seven games for Wales from Jay Dasilva’s excellent cross and, two minutes later, Kieffer Moore struck on the rebound after David Brooks’ shot was saved.

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