Norway vs. Italy: Score, Grades and Post-Match Reaction from Euro 2016 Qualifier

Simone Zaza and Leonardo Bonucci scored either side of half-time as Italy opened Euro 2016 qualifying with a 2-0 victory at Norway on Tuesday evening in a Group H match at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo.

Zaza netted his first international goal in the 16th minute to put the Azzurri on their way. Bonucci then doubled Italy's advantage with a 62nd-minute header following a good spell from the home side. 

The match finished on a sour note for Italy, however, as striker Ciro Immobile left the pitch on a stretcher following an injury in the closing minutes.

After recording a valuable away win in their opening qualifier, Italy will now move on to their next set of matches full of confidence. Up next for the Azzurri is a home date against unfancied Azerbaijan on Oct. 10, followed by a trip to Malta three days later.

Two more victories would put Italy in a strong position in the early stages of qualifying. The top two teams in Group H after 10 matches qualify automatically for Euro 2016, with the third-place finisher likely entering the play-offs.

Claudio Villa/Getty Images

Following the Azzurri's failure to advance beyond the group stage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the Italian FA turned to Antonio Conte to lead the side into Euro 2016 qualification. Conte, who had won the previous three Serie A titles with Juventus, chose an inexperienced, experimental squad for the first qualifier.

Among Italy's starting XI against Norway were seven players with fewer than 15 international caps—Andrea Ranocchia, Davide Astori, Matteo Darmian, Matti De Sciglio, Alessandro Florenzi, Zaza and Immobile.

Conte balanced the inexperience with a veteran backbone of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, centre-back Bonucci and midfielder Daniele De Rossi. 

Italy's first match under Conte ended in an impressive 2-0 victory against World Cup semi-finalists the Netherlands, a match in which the Azzurri scored twice in the first 10 minutes. Almost inevitably, Conte's side did not start quite as well against Norway in his first competitive match, but the opening goal did arrive in just over a quarter of an hour.

Claudio Villa/Getty Images

After dominating possession in the early stages, Italy went ahead in the 16th minute via Zaza. Mattia De Sciglio set up the goal with a fine cross from the left, passing to Zaza along the edge of the box. With Norway's defenders failing to apply pressure, the Sassuolo man cut through the area before hitting a deflected shot in at the near post.

Norway were guilty of poor defending, but the home side also protested the positioning of Italy forward Immobile on the play. Replays showed that Immobile was in an offside position as Zaza shot, but although he did not touch the ball on its way to goal, he might have interfered with Norway goalkeeper Orjan Haskjold Nyland's view.

Regardless, the home side had a good chance to draw level just four minutes later as Per Skjelbred played an angled pass to Joshua King in the box. From a tight angle, King sent his shot high and wide of the near post.

Both teams had chances later in the half as well. In the 29th minute, King turned along the edge of the box before rifling a deflected shot off target. Two minutes later, Italy's Emanuele Giaccherini had a high shot saved, with Immobile unable to finish on the rebound.

In the final minute of the first half, Giaccherini volleyed wide from the edge of the box after good work by De Sciglio down the left.

Trailing 1-0 at half-time, Norway began to hold more possession after the break. But the home side failed to trouble Buffon in Italy's goal and instead the Azzurri doubled their lead in the 62nd minute.

Again the goal came from the left flank as Manuel Pasqual, who had entered as a substitute moments earlier, crossed for Bonucci at the back post. Unmarked, Bonucci headed down powerfully into the net for a 2-0 lead.

Claudio Villa/Getty Images

Italy were comfortable from that point on, apart from a nervy moment in the 69th minute, when Norway's Tarik El Younoussi popped a long-range effort well over the bar after Giaccherini gave away possession.

The Azzurri nearly scored a third goal in the 77th minute as an Immobile flick freed Zaza down the middle. After dribbling to the box, Zaza struck the crossbar with a powerful, high shot that bounced as far as Florenzi. The latter directed a diving header on target, but Nyland saved with his feet.

Zaza came close again in the 81st minute, latching on to an errant pass in Norway's half before bearing down on goal again. After beating a defender with a dribble, Zaza chipped over an onrushing Nyland, only for Vegard Forren to clear off the line.

Player Ratings

Starting XI	Half-Time	Full-Time
Substitutes	Half-Time	Full-Time
Gianluigi Buffon	6.6	6.8
Andrea Ranocchia	7.7	8.1
Leonardo Bonucci	6.9	8.1
Davide Astori	7.1	7.4
Matteo Darmian	6.5	6.5
Alessandro Florenzi	6.8	7.4
Daniele De Rossi	6.7	7.7
Emanuele Giaccherini	6.6	7.2
Mattia De Sciglio	6.8	7.2
Simone Zaza	7.4	8.1
Ciro Immobile	6.4	6.9
Manuel Pasqual (for Darmian, 61')	N/A	7.1
Mattia Destro (for Zaza, 83')	N/A	6.0
Andrea Poli (for Florenzi, 87')	N/A	No rating

Post-Match Reaction

Italy coach Antonio Conte (RAI Sport via Football Italia):

"

It was an important match and certainly not easy, as we hadn’t won in Norway for decades, so these are always tricky games. I think in nine days we have done some great things with these lads. Now we have to get to know each other better, progress and improve.

…

I don’t recall Buffon getting his gloves dirty, whereas we created many dangerous opportunities to round out the scoreline. It won’t be easy for anyone to play here in Norway, so I am satisfied.

"

Italy forward Simone Zaza (RAI Sport via Football Italia):

"

Perhaps the Dutch were stronger in terms of quality, but Norway were very determined and we struggled for a while, but eventually achieved our targets.

I am living a dream week. Now my objective is to stay in this squad and continue to do well.

Conte’s approach is very tiring, but if you want to do well and play as a team, then you have to run. That’s how it should be.

"

Follow @MikeCummings37