“Northern Ireland it’s a team physics, with mentalitywho never gives up, but we have to play for it. It is within our reach, we need it good match but we can play it.” So a Sky Sports That technical commissioner of the Italian national team Gennaro Gattuso. The coach comments on the results of the draw 2026 World Cup Playoffs which will see the Azzurri in the semifinals at home against Northern Ireland and in the away final against the winner Wales-Bosnia Herzegovina.
But Gattuso brake a RaiSport: “We just need to comment on the match against Northern Ireland, where we play everything. Then Wales And Bosnia they have two different environments, different types of games, but the focus is on Northern Ireland and then we hope to talk about one of the other two.” Because Italy has two unfortunate precedents with Ireland’s selection: one trip back in 1958with Italy losing 2–1 and failing to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in its history. The second in 2021: The Azzurri drew 0-0 on the final day against Northern Ireland and failed to finish first in their group, then played (and lost) in the playoffs against Sweden.
Ireland North However, he was an easy opponent on paper. A formation with only one “star” (Bradley, Liverpool defender), at that time only local players or those in England’s lower divisions. “The problem is no tactical, all module they have me pro O oppose but that’s not the case – added Gattuso -. Right now we have to keep working our fragility because we have shown that when we do something well, we are good competitive. Now we will study the opponent and how to deal with him and then we will try to do as little damage as possible.”
One of the themes that is the center of attention in the last few weeks that’s what it’s related to apprenticeship during the playoff period. One way to together, mix group and concentrate on the two views decisive appointment for Italian football. Italy has actually missed it the last two editions from World Cup, lost in the playoffs Sweden before and North Macedonia Then.
“Apprenticeship? It’s not for me to decide, I decide coach, who do we have? occupy of these things. Normal rather than more days available we have to come together and be better because we are on the 11th day and see you again at 30th with the game almost over. But I have to think about how to survive contact with the players, look them in the eye and talk to them, not just football. And we hope to do everything in the right direction,” concluded Gattuso.
