Sandro Tonali earned Italy a thrilling 5-4 win against Israel on Monday with the decisive late strike in the 2026 World Cup qualifier just as it looked like the Azzurri were plunging into another crisis.

Newcastle United midfielder Tonali wheeled off in celebration in stoppage time when his speculative effort went through a sea of legs and into the net to win a rollercoaster of a match in Debrecen, Hungary, which Italy looked to have thrown away.

The Azzurri, who have missed the last two World Cups, were leading 4-2 in the 81st minute when substitute Giacomo Raspadori rolled home almost immediately after replacing the impressive Moise Kean, who netted Italy's first two goals.

However, a clumsy Alessandro Bastoni own-goal and Dor Peretz's header drew Israel level before Tonali's fortunate effort moved Italy up to second in Group I – level on nine points with Israel who have played a game more – and in the play-off spot.

"We'll take the win which was crucial for us, but we're completely nuts, nuts because we conceded some absurd goals," said Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso.

"We need to work on that because we're too fragile, we concede goals too easily. The boys know that, but this is my problem to fix.

"You have to give credit to the boys because every time they took a slap they had the courage to react and fight back."

Italy trail leaders Norway by three points and still have a chance of taking first place and the group's sole direct qualifying spot.

But Gattuso has a lot to think about ahead of October's return fixtures with Estonia and Israel, whose players donned black armbands in honour of the victims of Monday morning's deadly shooting at a bus stop in east Jerusalem carried out Palestinian gunmen.

Nominal home team Israel would have been good value for the draw, as Kean had previously twice pulled Italy out of the mire following Manuel Locatelli's early own-goal and a fabulous Dor Peretz strike in the 52nd minute in a largely empty Nagyerdei Stadium. (AFP)