Israel 4-5 Italy: Kean Shines, Defense Falters.

Israel 4-5 Italy: Kean Shines, Defense Falters.

Player Ratings: Israel 4-5 Italy – Alarming Signals, but Kean Dominates.

By Lorenzo Bettoni
September 8, 2025, 22:08

Introduction

                    On September 8, 2025, Italy secured a dramatic 5-4 victory over Israel in a chaotic FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying match at the Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary. Described as a “nine-goal thriller,” the match exposed significant defensive frailties in the Italian squad while highlighting standout performances from forwards like Moise Kean, who earned Football Italia’s Man of the Match (MOTM) honors.

            Despite the win, Italy’s performance raised serious concerns about their defensive organization and overall balance, with two own goals and multiple errors underscoring a lack of cohesion. This article provides a detailed analysis of the player ratings for both teams, delving into individual performances, tactical missteps, and the broader implications for Italy’s World Cup qualification campaign.

Match Overview

The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Israel taking the lead twice, only for Italy to fight back through goals from Moise Kean (40’, 54’), Matteo Politano (58’), Giacomo Raspadori (81’), and a stoppage-time winner from Sandro Tonali (90’+1). Israel’s goals came from an own goal by Manuel Locatelli (16’), Dor Peretz (52’, 89’), and an own goal by Alessandro Bastoni (87’). Despite Italy’s victory, the game highlighted defensive vulnerabilities, with Israel exploiting gaps that should not have troubled a team of Italy’s caliber. The match was played in a neutral venue in Hungary due to security concerns, with Israel’s players wearing black armbands in response to a recent attack in Jerusalem that killed six people. Below, we break down the performances of each player and the coaching staff, drawing on insights from Football Italia and ESPN analyses.

Italy Player Ratings
Goalkeeper

Gianluigi Donnarumma – 5.5
Donnarumma’s performance was a mixed bag, reflecting the inconsistency that plagued Italy’s defense. He was shaky when coming off his line, a recurring issue that allowed Israel to capitalize on set pieces and crosses. While he made a couple of notable saves, including a reflex stop on a close-range effort from Dor Peretz, his inability to command his area contributed to Israel’s four goals. His performance was described as “alarming” by analysts, particularly as he failed to prevent either of the own goals or Peretz’s second strike. Donnarumma’s struggles highlight the need for greater composure from Italy’s first-choice goalkeeper.

Defenders

Giovanni Di Lorenzo – 4.5
The Napoli captain had a torrid time dealing with Israel’s Manor Solomon, who repeatedly exposed him down the flank. Di Lorenzo struggled to track Solomon’s runs, allowing the Israeli winger to deliver dangerous crosses that led to scoring opportunities. His lack of positional awareness was evident in Israel’s first goal, where he failed to close down the space that led to Locatelli’s own goal. Di Lorenzo’s performance was a stark contrast to his usual reliability, raising questions about his form in high-stakes matches.

Gianluca Mancini – 4.5
Mancini’s inconsistent display epitomized Italy’s defensive woes. He was described as “switched on and off too often,” lacking the balance needed to anchor the backline. His positioning was poor during Israel’s second goal, where he failed to mark Dor Peretz, allowing the midfielder to head home unchallenged. Mancini’s inability to maintain focus throughout the match was a significant factor in Italy’s defensive collapse, and his performance will likely put pressure on coach Gennaro Gattuso to consider alternatives.

Alessandro Bastoni – 4.5
Bastoni, typically a reliable presence, had a night to forget. He failed to win any aerial duels, according to Sofascore, and his own goal in the 87th minute handed Israel a lifeline, leveling the score at 4-4. Bastoni appeared more confident when playing alongside Riccardo Calafiori in previous matches, and his struggles in this game underscored the importance of their partnership. His error-prone performance was a major contributor to Italy’s defensive frailties, and he will need to regain his composure for future qualifiers.

Midfielders

Federico Dimarco – 5.5
Dimarco’s performance was a tale of two halves. With the ball, he was exceptional, boasting a 93% passing accuracy, three accurate crosses out of six, and 100% accuracy on four long balls. His delivery from the left was a constant threat, setting up several attacking moves. However, defensively, he was exposed, conceding too many crosses from his flank. His substitution in the 78th minute for Andrea Cambiaso (rated 6) brought fresh energy, but Dimarco’s defensive lapses were a concern.

Nicolò Barella – 5
Barella’s contribution was limited to a single key pass—a long ball to Mateo Retegui that set up Moise Kean’s first goal. Beyond that, he struggled to impose himself on the game, failing to provide the dynamism expected in midfield. His substitution for Davide Frattesi in the 68th minute (rated 7) proved pivotal, as Frattesi brought energy and incisiveness to the midfield. Barella’s underwhelming performance suggests he needs to rediscover his form to remain a starter.

Manuel Locatelli – 5
Locatelli’s night was marred by an unlucky own goal in the 16th minute, deflecting a cross into his own net. While he made up for it with a vital clearance in the second half, his overall play was sluggish, with slow ball movement hindering Italy’s transitions. His lack of tempo in midfield allowed Israel to regain control at key moments, and his performance was a microcosm of Italy’s struggles to maintain rhythm.

Sandro Tonali – 6
Tonali’s performance was a blend of grit and redemption. Deployed wider on the left in the second half, he showed physical resilience but struggled with a disappointing 70% passing accuracy. His stoppage-time winner, a speculative curling shot that found its way through a crowded penalty area, salvaged Italy’s campaign and earned him a slightly higher rating. While his overall contribution was inconsistent, his decisive goal highlighted his potential to be a game-changer.

Forwards

Matteo Politano – 6.5
Politano marked his return to the scoresheet for Italy with his first competitive goal in over four years, a well-taken strike in the 58th minute assisted by a backheeled flick from Retegui. Despite a quiet first half, his goal gave Italy the lead for the first time, showcasing his ability to deliver in crucial moments. Substituted for Riccardo Orsolini in the 68th minute (rated 6), Politano’s contribution was a bright spot in an otherwise shaky performance.

Mateo Retegui – 7.5
Retegui was Italy’s standout performer in attack, providing three assists that kept their World Cup hopes alive. His intelligent movement and link-up play were instrumental in setting up Kean’s two goals and Politano’s strike. Retegui’s ability to involve himself in nearly every goal underscored his growing importance to the Azzurri, earning him high praise for his work rate and vision.

Moise Kean – 8 (MOTM)
Kean was the hero of the night, sparking Italy into life with two quick-fire goals either side of halftime. His first, in the 40th minute, leveled the score after Israel’s early lead, while his second, in the 54th minute, restored parity after Peretz’s goal. Kean’s brace brought his international goal tally to 10, matching Barella’s, and his relentless energy kept Israel’s defense on edge. Substituted for Giacomo Raspadori in the 78th minute (rated 7), Kean’s performance was a reminder of his potential to lead Italy’s attack.

Substitutes

Davide Frattesi (68’) – 7: Injected energy and incisiveness, nearly scoring himself and contributing to Italy’s attacking momentum.

Riccardo Orsolini (68’) – 6: Provided fresh legs but had limited impact in his cameo.

Andrea Cambiaso (78’) – 6: Stabilized the left flank after Dimarco’s substitution but didn’t influence the game significantly.

Giacomo Raspadori (78’) – 7: Scored Italy’s fourth goal in the 81st minute, restoring their lead before Israel’s late equalizer.

Coach

Gennaro Gattuso – 5
Gattuso’s tenure as Italy’s coach was put under scrutiny after a flat first half and a chaotic second. While he can take credit for the win, the performance was far from convincing. Israel’s ability to score four goals without doing “anything special” exposed tactical deficiencies, particularly in defense. Gattuso’s substitutions, particularly Frattesi and Raspadori, proved effective, but his overall game plan lacked cohesion, leaving Italy vulnerable to counterattacks and set pieces.

Israel Player Ratings
Goalkeeper

Daniel Peretz – 4
Israel’s goalkeeper had a night to forget, conceding five goals despite facing only seven shots on target. Peretz was unable to stop Kean’s brace, Politano’s strike, Raspadori’s goal, or Tonali’s winner, with his positioning questionable on several occasions. His inability to command the penalty area contributed to Israel’s defensive collapse.

Defenders

Eli Dasa – 5 (66’ Jehezkel 5.5)
Dasa struggled to contain Italy’s attacking threats, particularly Dimarco’s overlapping runs. His substitution for Sagiv Jehezkel in the 66th minute brought marginal improvement, but Jehezkel’s impact was limited, earning a slightly higher rating for his energy.

Idan Nachmias – 4.5
Nachmias was overwhelmed by Italy’s forwards, particularly Retegui and Kean, failing to provide the defensive stability needed. His lack of aerial presence allowed Italy to exploit set pieces and crosses.

Stav Lemkin – 4.5 (9’ Shlomo 6, 88’ Turgeman N/A)
Lemkin’s early substitution in the 9th minute for Raz Shlomo was forced by injury, disrupting Israel’s defensive structure. Shlomo performed adequately, earning a 6, but his late substitution for Dor Turgeman had no impact due to limited time.

Roy Revivo – 6.5
Revivo was one of Israel’s brighter performers, showing resilience on the left flank and contributing to attacking moves. His defensive work was solid, though he couldn’t prevent Italy’s late surge.

Midfielders

Dor Peretz – 7.5
Peretz was Israel’s standout player, scoring twice (52’, 89’) and proving a constant threat in midfield. His header to equalize at 2-2 and his late strike to make it 4-4 showcased his aerial ability and determination. Peretz’s performance kept Israel in the game until the final moments.

Eliel Peretz – 7
Eliel Peretz complemented his brother Dor with a strong performance in midfield, maintaining possession and creating opportunities. His work rate and passing accuracy helped Israel stay competitive, though he couldn’t prevent the late collapse.

Forwards

Anan Khalaili – 6.5 (66’ Baribo 6)
Khalaili showed flashes of brilliance but lacked consistency. His substitution for Tai Baribo in the 66th minute didn’t change the game’s dynamics, with Baribo offering little in attack.

Oscar Gloukh – 6
Gloukh was industrious but failed to make a decisive impact. His creativity was stifled by Italy’s midfield, limiting his influence in the final third.

Manor Solomon – 7.5
Solomon was Israel’s most dangerous player, constantly tormenting Di Lorenzo down the left flank. His crosses and dribbling created multiple chances, including the buildup to Locatelli’s own goal. Solomon’s performance was a highlight for Israel, earning him high praise.

Dan Biton – 7 (66’ Mizrahi 6.5)
Biton was lively in attack, contributing to Israel’s first goal and maintaining pressure on Italy’s defense. His substitution for Ilay Mizrahi in the 66th minute saw a slight drop in intensity, though Mizrahi performed admirably.

Coach

Ran Ben Shimon – 7
Shimon’s tactical setup allowed Israel to exploit Italy’s defensive weaknesses, resulting in four goals—a remarkable feat against a team of Italy’s stature. His team’s resilience in coming back from deficits twice was commendable, though defensive lapses ultimately cost them the match. Shimon’s game plan earned him a solid rating for keeping Israel competitive.

Tactical Analysis

Italy’s 3-5-2 formation, intended to provide defensive stability and attacking width, faltered due to poor execution. The back three of Di Lorenzo, Mancini, and Bastoni struggled with communication, leading to two own goals and multiple unmarked runs by Israel’s attackers. The midfield, anchored by Locatelli and Barella, lacked tempo, allowing Israel to dominate possession at key moments. However, Italy’s attacking trio of Retegui, Kean, and Politano proved decisive, with Retegui’s assists and Kean’s goals masking deeper issues.

Israel’s 4-2-3-1 setup relied on Solomon’s pace and Peretz’s aerial threat, which exposed Italy’s flanks and set-piece defending. However, their defense, particularly Peretz and Nachmias, struggled against Italy’s quick transitions, and goalkeeper Daniel Peretz’s errors proved costly. Shimon’s substitutions were tactical but failed to stem Italy’s late momentum.

Implications for Italy’s World Cup Campaign

The 5-4 win moved Italy to second place in UEFA World Cup Qualifying Group I with 9 points, behind Norway (12 points) and ahead of Israel (9 points). While the victory kept Italy’s qualification hopes alive, the defensive lapses and reliance on individual brilliance from Kean and Retegui are cause for concern. Gattuso faces pressure to address these issues before facing Moldova and other group opponents. The absence of Riccardo Calafiori, who withdrew due to injury, was felt, as Bastoni’s performance suffered without his regular partner.

Israel, despite the loss, showed they can compete with top teams, with Solomon and Peretz proving their quality. However, their defensive frailties and goalkeeper errors highlight areas for improvement if they aim to challenge for qualification.

The Italy vs. Israel match on September 8, 2025, was a thrilling but alarming display for the Azzurri. Moise Kean’s brace and Mateo Retegui’s three assists secured a vital win, but defensive errors, including two own goals, exposed significant weaknesses. Sandro Tonali’s stoppage-time winner spared Italy’s blushes, but the performance raised questions about Gattuso’s tactics and the team’s readiness for the 2026 World Cup.

For Israel, Dor Peretz and Manor Solomon shone, but their defensive lapses and goalkeeper Daniel Peretz’s struggles cost them a potential upset. As both teams move forward, Italy must address their defensive frailties, while Israel can take heart from their attacking prowess. This match will be remembered as much for its chaos as for Kean’s heroics.