ROME (AP) — The fear that four-time champion Italy will fail to qualify for a third straight World Cup has cost coach Luciano Spalletti his job.

Spalletti announced Sunday that he is being fired and will leave after Monday’s World Cup qualifier against Moldova.

The move comes two days after Italy lost 3-0 at Norway in its opening qualifier.

“Last night I had a conversation with the president (Italian soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina) and he told me that I would be fired,” Spalletti said in a pre-match news conference at Italy’s training center. “I didn’t have any intention on (leaving) and I would have preferred to stay on. But it’s a sacking and I realize that.”

Claudio Ranieri, who just concluded a successful season at Roma but had said he was retiring from coaching, is

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