Entering the 2026 World Cup play-off round with Northern Ireland, coach Gennaro Gattuso affirmed that Italy is capable of advancing but must quickly fix the weaknesses revealed after the loss to Norway.
Coach Gennaro Gattuso affirmed that Italy is capable of advancing but must quickly fix the weaknesses revealed after the loss to Norway.
The draw in Zurich on November 20 has pitted Italy against Northern Ireland in the World Cup play-off semi-finals in March. Coach Gennaro Gattuso believes the opposition is within his control, but warns that the game will not be easy as Northern Ireland play a physical game and compete for second balls. He believes it will be a tense game, but Italy have the ability to compete for a place in the final.
“Northern Ireland are within our reach. It’s a one-off game. They’re strong physically, good at second balls. It’s going to be a big game, but Italy are competitive,” Gattuso told Rai .
The personnel issue continued to be mentioned when the media asked about the case of Federico Chiesa. Gattuso clearly showed his discomfort when asked about this issue again. He emphasized that Chiesa decided to be absent from the most recent training session, and this was not the matter of the coaching staff.
Italy could face Wales or Bosnia next if they beat Northern Ireland. Gattuso said both opponents are tough, especially away from home, but declined to comment further. The coach wants the team to focus on the semi-final, and said the federation is considering Bergamo as a venue.
After the heavy 1-4 defeat to Norway in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Gattuso gave the players time to overcome their emotions. He admitted the humiliation was still there but insisted the team had to quickly get up.
The Italian coach said his plan is to proactively visit players playing abroad and at home to maintain contact. The lack of time for the team to concentrate has forced him to find ways to connect more regularly with his students.
Looking back at the defeat to Norway, Gattuso said Italy’s weaknesses were clear, especially their ability to maintain concentration in the second half. Although he praised the performance in the first 45 minutes, he insisted the team “cannot disappear like that” and needed to change immediately.
Regarding the possibility of organizing more training sessions, Gattuso said the decision was up to the President of the Federation, but admitted that the more time they had to work together, the easier it would be for Italy to improve. He stressed the need to talk to the players not only about football but also about spirit, aiming to help the team stabilize before the decisive play-off round.