The Italian national team is determined to leave behind the two consecutive eliminations from the finals of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and to be “present” on the pitch of America next summer.
On Thursday night (26/03), the “blue team” welcomes Northern Ireland in Bergamo for the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup playoffs, aiming to do their “duty” and claim the ticket for the finals of the competition in the final against the winner of the Wales-Bosnia/Herzegovina pair.
Speaking at the press conference, Gennaro Gattuso emphasized that tomorrow is the most important game of his career, revealing that the Italian fans constantly ask him to lead the national team to the trophy!
In detail what he said:
“For months I’ve been hearing people say, ‘Take us to the World Cup.’ But I have prepared myself and I don’t want to think that things will go badly. We’ll be in the game. Experience is important, but tomorrow we should be able to suffer and be careful with what we do well. Especially the ball in the area and the second balls. But today’s players are so advanced that they know their opponents well. You have to feel the danger and be ready.
I’m still young as a coach, but I have a lot to claim. The game against Northern Ireland is the most important game of my career. I have a nation on my shoulders. Tomorrow, we will need brains and strength. They strongly believe in what they do. But we are excited and the mood in the dressing room is good.”